Fierce Chiefs ambush Lions
Altas pip Bombers, share 2nd
ARELLANO waited nine months for a crack at a San Beda squad that swept the Chiefs in the NCAA finals last season.
The rejuvenated Chiefs jumped at the opportunity yesterday, scoring a vengeful 88-84 victory over the defending champion Red Lions to seize solo fourth at the close of the first round of the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Jiovani Jalalon dished out a sterling allaround game with 22 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals while Dioncee Holts poured nine of his 21 points in the final period for the Chiefs, who erected an 84-73 lead on Allen Enriquez’s layup with 3:16 remaining.
The basket capped a 17-point turnaround in less than six minutes for the Chiefs, whose pressure defense and free-flowing offense dumbfounded the usually steady Lions.
Jalalon had back-to-back triples, while Holts, Michael Salado and Zach Nicholls accounted for a trey each in the spurt.
Still, the Chiefs needed to stay composed down the stretch with Holts burying four free throws in the last 30 seconds to wrap up their sixth win in nine games.
“At least, we were able to get some revenge for our loss in the finals last year,” said Jalalon. “I really didn’t care about the score late in the game as we were just enjoying ourselves.”
With San Beda losing for only the second time in nine outings, Perpetual Help forged a tie for second spot after outlasting Jose Rizal U, 86-83, in overtime.
Reigning MVP Earl Scottie Thompson again played hero for the Altas, tallying his third triple double of the season with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 17 assists in 44 minutes, just one week after suffering a sprained ankle in their victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
Thompson bungled the chance to finish the Bombers off in regulation, but he managed a split from the foul line, giving Dave Sanchez the opportunity to forge the overtime period with a triple with 1.2 seconds left.
Earlier, the San Beda Red Cubs dumped the Arellano Braves, 86-81, to complete a nine-game sweep of the first round.