MENDOZA STOPS END GAME SCARE AS JRU TORCHES LETRAN
By Maxine Louise Lagman
21 July 2017
From a devastating overtime loss to Arellano Chiefs last Tuesday, Jed Mendoza took the lead on making sure his squad wins this time around over the Letran Knights, 65-62, Friday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Mendoza boosted the Heavy Bombers in the final frame, leading an 8-0 run against Letran and making a comfortable 57-48. While a combined basket by Richard David and Mendoza extended the lead to a game-high 11 point, 61-50, four minutes left in the game.
However, the Letran Knights almost pulled another overtime game with the Heavy Bombers after making an end game rally from the opponent’s turnovers and cut down the lead to three.
Teytey Teodoro missed two crucial free throws, as Bong Quinto rebounded the ball and passed the ball too strong to teammate JP Calvo for a possible shoot to open an overtime.
Luckily, Mendoza was able to stop JP Calvo from making another basket in the final seven seconds to take victory.
“Pagdating sa end game, we cannot commit turnovers or passing erros. That’s why they (Letran) came back,” said JRU Coach Vergel Meneses.
Mendoza led JRU with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Teodoro added 14 points and Gio Lasquety had 10 points. Abdulwahab Abdulrazak helped in the defensive end with 12 rebounds.
Quinto led Letran with 16 points, while Rey Nambatac had 14 points.
JRU will face San Sebastian on Thursday, July 27 on the Golden Stags’ home court, while Letran Knights will take on San Beda Red Lions on Tuesday, July 25.
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