JRU rules Cebu City Invitationals

Sports

THE Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers completed a perfect run in the Cebu City Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament, seizing the championship crown by dominating the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 84-65, on Tuesday night, August 12, at the Cebu City Sports Institute Gym in Barangay Sawang Calero.

The Heavy Bombers dominated the championship match from get-go, posting leads of as big as 31 points to cap en route to sweeping the five-team, six-day tournament.

Going 5-0 in the tournament, JRU pocketed the P130,000 to top purse as it won second straight crown after also previously ruling the EcoOil Preseason Cup.

The Nani Epondulan-coached JRU now sets its sights on the National Collegiate Athletic Associaiton, which is set to open next month.

“I hope we can carry this over to NCAA,” Epondulan said.

Eventual Most Valuable Player awardee Christopher Hubilla finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and an assist to lead JRU. Lawrence Mangubat and Sean Salvador backed Hubilla with 14 and 10 markers, respectively.

Maverick Angelo Eligoyo scored 13 points, Luther Gabriel Leonard had 11 and Jepherson Nonol chipped in 10 for UC, which came away with P70,000 as a runner-up.

In the battle-for-third, the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors thrashed the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 98-75.

Christopher Lagat fired 24 points to lead UE, while Jm Edoukou, John Xyrus Gemao, and Johndrew Jimenez had 14, 11, and 10, respectively.

Kent Ivo Salarda was the lone double-digit scorer for UV with 22 points.

UE got P50,000 while UV settled for P30,000 in the tournament organized by the Cebu City Sports Commission headed by its chairman Dr. Rhoel Dejaño.(CCM)