The JRU Heavy Bombers overcame a 12-point deficit behind Chris Hubilla’s best outing yet in a Bombers uniform to fend off the EAC Generals, 84-74, and notch its fourth straight win in the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Hubilla, who served a one-year residency after transferring from the Mapua Cardinals, erupted for a season-high 26 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. He powered JRU’s second-half surge, scoring 17 of his 26 points after the break.
“Ni-remind lang ako ni Coach Nani [Epondulan] na all the time na maglalaro ako, dapat ready at pag-aatake ako, madiin talaga,” Hubilla said of his breakout performance. “‘Yung mga una naming laro, nawala ‘yung aggressiveness ko. Pinag-isipan ko lang nang mabuti at tinrabaho ko lang kahit sa ensayo na huwag akong mag-petiks kasi pag nape-petiks ako sa ensayo, nadadala namin sa game.”
“Every practice na pinapasok ko, laging aggressive para sa games na ganito, ma-adapt namin,” he added.
With the win, the Bombers remained unbeaten in the crossover round and tied the Benilde Blazers for first place in Group A with a league-best 6-1 record. The Generals, meanwhile, slipped to solo fourth in Group B with a 2-5 slate.
Bombers Turn the Tide
The two teams traded blows in the opening quarter before Lawrence Mangubat sank a buzzer-beating floater to give JRU a 22-20 lead heading into the second period.
EAC then threatened to pull away, unleashing a 7-0 run capped by Harvae Raymundo’s free throw to establish an 11-point lead, 38-27. The Generals, however, managed just three points the rest of the period, allowing the Bombers to trim the deficit to six at halftime, 41-35.
JRU turned the tide in the third quarter, capitalizing on a five-minute EAC scoring drought to unleash a 15-2 run punctuated by Hubilla’s layup for a 50-43 lead. The Bombers kept pulling away in the fourth, with Mangubat’s triple and Ivan Panapanaan’s layup stretching the advantage to 12, 63-51, just a minute into the period.
EAC struggled to contain JRU down the stretch. Jahmir Eligado’s layup extended the lead to 13 with just over a minute left, putting the game out of reach.
“‘Yung nangyari sa first half, there were open shots pero hindi namin na-co-convert. Luckily, nung second half, with Stephen Garupil and Sean Salvador hitting those wide-open three-point shots, doon nag-open ‘yung floor for Hubilla and Mangubat … eventually dumiretso kami at doon na kami lumamang,” Epondulan said.
Mangubat finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Salvador chipped in 11 points, including three triples. Garupil added nine points for the Bombers.
Bagay and Joseph Nunag paced EAC with 17 points apiece, while Wilmar Oftana posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Next Up for Heavy Bombers, Generals
JRU looks to build more momentum when they take on defending champions San Beda Red Lions on Monday, October 19. EAC, on the other hand, tries to get back into the win column on Thursday, October 15. The venue for both games is the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
