Oro’s Salado tows Arellano past JRU in overtime
MANILA--Kent Salado lived up to his billing as Arellano University’s new main man as he towed the Chiefs to a heart-stopping 73-72 overtime victory over Jose Rizal University (JRU) in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Salado, who for the past two years was best known as Jiovani Jalalon’s backcourt partner, came up with the clutch hits in overtime including the runner with one-third of a second left to secure the victory.
He finished with 25 points – 23 of which came in the second half and in the extra period – along with six rebounds and eight assists for a superb all-around performance.
“We’re so happy. I don’t know how to describe it,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera after his team emerged victorious in the first overtime game of Season 93. “Grabe `yung game. Character build-up din sa amin, kasi naka-build ng trust sa isa’t isa.”
However, Salado was nearly the goat for Arellano in the game after he missed two charities with 9.8 seconds left in regulation that could have iced the ball game.
Instead, JRU got the ball back down three points, 5962, and found Jed Mendoza open on the wings for a booming triple that he banked in with two-tenths of a second left.
In a back-and-forth overtime affair, Zach Nicholls came up huge for the Chiefs, draining back-to-back triples for a 69-66 advantage with 2:14 left. However, Mendoza also proved that his overtimeforcing three-pointer was no fluke, as he tied the game with a triple of his own with 1:54 to go.
Salado gave the Chiefs a 71-69 lead after pouncing on Mendoza’s turnover with just under a minute left, but Mendoza made up for his error by grabbing an offensive board from a miss by John Grospe to tie the game anew, 71-all, with 35.9 ticks to go.
Mendoza had the chance to be the hero after he drew Salado’s fourth foul with only four seconds left, but managed to make only the second of his two charities for a one-point lead, 72-71.
Out of a timeout, Arellano got the ball to Salado, who made up for his miscues at the end of regulation with a tough running shot over the defense of JRU big man Abdel Poutouochi, giving the Chiefs the lead for good.
“We have to go to Salado, and we were able to execute,” said Codiñera, who made it clear during the timeout that Salado was their first option. “It’s trust eh. He made that crucial basket.”
Salado was scoreless in the first period and mustered only two points in the second – off free throws – as JRU surged to a 35-28 halftime lead with Teytey Teodoro and MJ Dela Vergen both hitting their shots from the perimeter.
A more offensive-minded Salado came out with a purpose in the third period, slashing to the rim and pulling up for jumpers. He had 10 of Arellano’s 16 points in the quarter, and they entered the fourth frame down by just four, 44-48.
It appeared as though the Chiefs would cruise to victory after they took a 62-56 lead with 1:18 to go, thanks to a lay-up by Brylle Meca and a clutch three-pointer by Nicholls.
However, the Heavy Bombers quickly erased their lead, capped by Mendoza’s gutsy three-pointer that forced overtime.
Salado would not be denied in the extra period, however, as he powered the Chiefs to their second victory in three games.
Nicholls finished with 13 points, while Lervin Flores contributed seven points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks in the game. The Chiefs won the contest despite shooting only 38.16% from the field, including only 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.
Dela Virgen and Teodoro each had 15 points, but Teodoro cramped up in overtime. Mendoza finished with nine points, all of which came in the fourth quarter and the extra period.
JRU dropped to 1-2 in the tournament. CBN/Abscbnnews
The scores:
ARELLANO 73--Salado 25, Nicholls 13, Flores 7, Enriquez 6, Canete 6, Meca 4, Villoria 4, Ongolo Ongolo 4, Alcoriza 4, Dela Cruz 0, Rivera 0, Padilla 0, Concepcion 0, Abanes 0.
JRU 72 -- Dela Virgen 15, Teodoro 15, Poutouochi 11, Grospe 10, Mendoza 9, Abdul Razak 4, Lasquety 3, David 2, Castor 2, Bordon 1.
Quarter scores: 15-17, 2835, 44-48, 62-62, 73-72 (OT)