Jose Rizal University overcame the absence of star Chris Hubilla in its 81-78 win over Lyceum in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Tuesday.
With Hubilla out indefinitely after going down with a partial MCL tear in the team’s previous game against San Beda, the Heavy Bombers turned to another dependable sniper in Sanlea Peñaverde.
Peñaverde exploded for 22 points along with five assists, four steals and three rebounds for JRU, which got back into the win column.
Hubilla, meanwhile, continued to help the team off the court, encouraging Peñaverde to stay aggressive.
‘My kuyas and coaches on the team just talk to me a lot, especially Chris,’ Pañaverde said. ‘He just kept telling me to step up and keep shooting. They’ll eventually go in.’
JRU led by four late in the fourth quarter, 79-75, before Matthew Rubico converted a three-point play to pull the Pirates within one, 79-78, with 16 seconds remaining.
Lawrence Mangubat, who returned from a shoulder injury, then calmly sank two free throws in the next play to extend the Heavy Bombers’ lead to 81-78 with 9.2 seconds left.
The Pirates had chances to tie the game, but triples from Lance Aurigue and Renz Villegas failed to fall as the Pirates dropped to 4-6.
JRU improved to a Group A-best 8-3, with Sean Salvador adding 16 points and Mangubat contributing 12. Ivan Panapanaan posted a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.