Bombers pulverize Generals; Cardinals win

John Wilson dished out another superb game as Jose Rizal smashed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 83-69, yesterday to seize a share of the lead in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wilson hit four triples and finished with 22 points he laced with 10 boards, three steals and two assists without committing a single error to power the Bombers to their third straight triumph and a piece of the lead.

“He’s without doubt one of our best players,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia of the talented Wilson, a member of PBL champion Oracle Residences.

The Generals fell to their third defeat in row.

Earlier, Mapua drew strength from other sources when top gun Allan Mangahas struggled as it overpowered Angeles U Foundation, 101-63, to score its first win in three starts.

With Mangahas held to only seven points, Mark Acosta, Erwin Cornejo and Jason Pascual gladly picked up the slack and torched the Great Danes with 21, 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“It feels good to finally win this season,” said neophyte coach Chito Victolero, who replaced Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac late last year.

Victolero, a former Cardinal himself, said Mangahas fired up the team despite his so-so offensives.

“The most important thing is he provided us with leadership and he created situations for his teammates,” said Victolero.

The Cardinals, who made it to the Final Four but lost to eventual champion San Beda last season, took the Great Danes out of their comfort zone from start to finish.

In fact, Mapua silenced AUF’s top two scorers – Aaron Santos and Matt Carney, who had 29 and 24 points in an 86-75 thrashing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Monday.

Carney, an Amerasian, was held to just seven points and turned the ball six times while Santos fared even worse as he was held to just two shots and finished scoreless in the contest. – Joey Villar