UNIVERSITY of  Santo Tomas-Ironcon  Builders rode  on   the   hot hands  of   Jeric  Fortuna  to  escape with  a  hard-earned  65-58  win over  Investwell  and   gain  a share of the  lead  with  Jose  Rizal University in the  MBL Invitational basketball championship at the Lyceum  gym in Intramuros, Manila.

Fortuna  nailed a long  three-point  shot with the shot clock running out,  added  two free   throws  and  scored   on  a short jumper  to  bail  UST-Ironcon  out of  trouble  late  in  the   fourth quarter and  power the Tigers to their  fifth straight win in the  tough, 10-team   tournament supported  by  Smart  Sports, Cebuana  Lhuillier, Dickies  Underwear, PRC  Couriers  and  Parola Maritime.

Fortuna’s  heroics  came after Investwell   rattled off  eight unanswered  points to  wrest the lead at 53-52.

Aljon   Mariano  finished  with 14 points and  JericTeng and  Fortuna  added 10 points for  UST-Ironcon, which was handled by assistant coach Cenen Duenas in the  absence of coach Pido  Jarencio.

Mark Pangilinan scored 14 points  for  Investwell of  coach Joel  Jabar.

Letran College outsteadied Mapua,  74-67, in  an  all-NCAA showdown  to improve  its record to 3-2.

Marvin Cruz, Kevin Racal and   Raymond Almazan  combined   for  44 points  for the  coach Louie Alas-mentored  Knights.

Cruz, at  5-7 the smallest player on  the  court, provided the clutch baskets for the Knights, who  staved  off   repeated  rallies by the  Cardinals in the tensely-fought  encounter that saw the ejection of  Mapua  coach Chito Victolero.

Mark Brana and Kenneth Ighalo led   Mapua-Mighty   Sports with 13 and 11 points, respectively.


The scores:


First game

UST-Ironcon (65) -- Mariano 11, Teng 11, Fortuna 10,  Pe 8,  Ferrer 8,  Hainga 6, Bautista 6, Tan 3, Vigil 2, Abdul 0, Lo 0, Estabillo 0.

Investwell (58)  -- Pangilinan 14, De la Cruz 13, Dedicatoria 12, Malinao 10, Macasaet 5, Delos Trinos 2, Pabillano 2, Roy 0, Rabalo 0, Echane 0.

Quarterscores:  14-10, 30-20, 48-37, 65-58.


Second game

Letran (74) --  Cruz  19, Racal 14, Almazan 11, Cortez 8, Gabriel 8, Gabawan 5, Almario 4, Lituana 4, Pantin 1, Belorio 0, Cudal 0, Luib 0.

Mapua-Mighty  Sports (67) --  Brana 13, Ighalo 11,  J.Banal 9, Parala 9, Nimes 9, G.Banal 8, Stevens 2, Oriobu 2, Saitanan 2, Abad 2, Layug 0, Magsigay 0, Estrella 0.

Quarterscores : 20-17, 47-34, 57-50, 74-67.