JRU sweeps Cebu City Invitationals eliminations, faces UC in championship

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers stamped their class as the team to beat in the Cebu City Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament, completing a sweep of the elimination round with an emphatic 89-67 victory over the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers on Monday night, Aug. 10.

The win sent JRU into today’s championship game against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, with the title and a P130,000 top prize at stake.

Coached by Nani Epondulan, the Heavy Bombers entered their final elimination-round assignment already assured of a spot in the championship, but they showed no signs of easing off as they overwhelmed UV from the opening tip and built a commanding 29-point advantage.

JRU wrapped up the eliminations with a perfect 4-0 record, reinforcing its status as the tournament favorite heading into the title showdown against UC at 8 p.m. today.

Sanlea Penaverde paced the balanced JRU attack with 16 points, while Jalen Garcia added 13. Four other Heavy Bombers scored at least seven points as JRU’s depth proved too much for the Green Lancers.

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Winston Bingil finished with 14 points for UV, while Steven Christian Canete and Rovelo Robles chipped in 10 apiece. The Green Lancers ended their campaign with three straight losses and were eliminated from championship contention.

In the other game, the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs turned to a spectacular offensive performance from Junil Bulan to defeat UC, 90-76, in a non-bearing encounter.

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Bulan erupted for 28 points while also hauling down eight rebounds, dishing out two assists and making two steals. Jesli Dela Cruz supplied 15 points, Alcher Pabalan posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Loufred Jhon Diamante added 10.

UC was led by Ray Charles Libatog with 16 points, while reserves Juan Raphael Garro and Joie Perino came off the bench to score 12 and 14 points, respectively.

The Webmasters, however, appeared to have one eye already on the championship as they pulled back late after falling behind by as many as 23 points, 89-66. UC rested key players Ricofer Sordilla and Luther Gabriel Leonard in preparation for their much-anticipated title clash with the unbeaten Heavy Bombers.

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