Games  today: (JRU gym)

7 p.m. -- Skyforce vs. Investwell
8:30  p.m. --  Mapua-Mighty Sports vs. Trinity


JOSE Rizal  University   made it six wins in a row when it  humbled   Lyceum of  the  Philippines-Yummy   Hotdogs, 101-81, in  a  keenly-watched   match between  two leading  NCAA  teams in the MBL Invitational basketball championship at the JRU gym in  Shaw  Blvd.,  Mandaluyong   City.

Nate Matute scattered  23 points, including  five  three pointers, and   the  Heavy Bombers  used  a   strong  defensive  effort to shut down the Pirates in the third and  fourth periods  on the way to their sixth straight win in the 10-team  tournament  sponsored   by  Smart  Sports, Cebuana Lhuillier,  Dickies Underwear, PRC  Couriers and  Parola Maritime.

In the  second  game,   Mapua-Mighty Sports  survived  a  furious  fourth-quarter  rally  by  Wang’s  Ballclub to escape with a  heart-stopping  92-91 win.

Handled by PBA legend-turned-coach  Vergel  Meneses and  supported  by  athletic director  Paul Supan, the  Heavy Bombers  drew   firepower  from 5-11  Matute and 6-4 Ralph Monserat and clamped down on the Pirates’ gunners in the second half  to  turn a close contest into a  rout.

Monserat finished with 17 points and 13  rebounds and   Decoy  Lopez   added 14  points for the  Heavy Bombers, who turned the  game  around with  a smashing  36-point  third  quarter production.

Chris Cayabyab and Rich Guevarra carried the  fight for the Bonnie  Tan-mentored Pirates with  22  and 14 points, respectively.

Mapua-Mighty  Sports  rode the  hot  hands of  Jonathan and Gab Banal  and Josan Nimes to  establish several  double-digit  leads  in  the  first 3 1/2 quarters  but  held on in  the  closing seconds  to  stave off  Wang’s rally. 

Jonathan  Banal,  son of  coach Koy Banal, finished with 18 points, while Gab Banal, son of coach  Joel  Banal, added 15 points  for  the  Cardinals of  coach Chito Victolero.

Former PBA mainstay Jonathan Aldave led  Wang’s with  23 points, followed by  Jonathan Pinera with 22 and Anthony Cuevas with 14.

Aldava  and former Letran teammate  Pinera triggered Wang’s comeback and  Cuevas’ difficult  undergoal  stab made it 91-92  with  still  five  seconds left.


The scores:

First game

Letran   College won  by  forfeiture   over Trinity University-NowTV.


Second  game

Jose  Rizal (101) -- Matute 23, Monserat 17,  Lopez 14, Camasura 11, Salaveria  8, Almario 7, Dela  Paz 6, Mabulac 4, Carampil 4,  Paniamogan 3, Rebugio 2, Mendoza 2, Guiang 0, Munez 0.

Lyceum -Yummy Hotdogs (81) -- Cayabyab  22, Guevarra 14,  Kho 11, Ong 7, Francisco 6, Laude 5,  Fampulme 5, Azores 5, Mallari 4,  Zamora 2, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores:  21-21, 42-34, 78-56, 101-81.


Third game

Mapua-Mighty  Sports (92) -- J. Banal 18,  G.Banal 15, Nimes 12, Saitanan 12,  Ighalo 9, Estrella 8, Brana 7, Stevens 4, Oriobu 3, Magsigay 2, Parala 2, Abad 0, Layug 0.

Wang’s Ballclub (91) -- Aldave 23, Pinera 22, Cuevas 14, Magbanua 10,  Kabigting 10, Lingao-Lingao 4, Salvado 3, R.Litonjua 3, Regalado 2, Orera 0, Asoro 0,  Reyes 0, D.Litonjua 0, Bower 0.

Quarterscores: 29-16, 46-30, 71-57, 92-91.