By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE JOSE RIZAL University Heavy Bombers notched back-to-back wins in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 after topping the Perpetual Help Altas, 71-66, on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Broke through with their debut win in the ongoing season of the country’s oldest collegiate league last time around after losing three straight, the Bombers padded their cause with a gallant stand against the Altas to improve to 2-3 and climb up the standings.

JRU banked on a strong start against Perpetual Help before weathering a spirited fight back by Perpetual Help in the second half to stay on top and book the win.

The Louie Gonzalez-coached Bombers got rolling early, taking a 17-11 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.

On the lead of John Amores and Agem Miranda, JRU continued to hold off Perpetual Help on their way to an even bigger lead of 13 points, 41-28, by the halftime break.

In the third period, the Altas got the traction they were angling for as Edgar Charcos, Kim Aurin and Rey Peralta found their mark.

A strong late push as the quarter ended thrust Perpetual Help to being down by just four points, 55-51, heading into the final canto.

The Altas continued with their charge back to begin the fourth quarter.

Charcos kept his team within striking distance, 59-55, with seven minutes to go.

Ry Dela Rosa and Marqin Dionisio, however, conspired to help the Bombers to a 10-0 blast in the next three minutes to push their team to a 69-55 lead with 3:50 left on the clock.

Sensing the game was slipping from their hands, the Altas started making moves to claw their way back.

They came to within five points, 71-66, at the 1:36 mark after a putback from Jefher Egan.

That was the closest they would get though as the Bombers hung on to the lead en route to the victory.

Amores led JRU with 15 points, followed by Dela Rosa, Dionisio and Stefan Steinl with 12 points apiece.

Miranda is the fifth Bomber in double digits with 11 points.

For Perpetual Help, which dropped to 1-3 after the loss, it was Aurin who top-scored with 14 points.

Charcos and Peralta finished with 13 points each.

“After the last game we gained some confidence. Entering today’s game we were more relaxed but we still made sure we were not derailed from our game plan,” said Mr. Gonzalez postgame.

“It was a total team effort and the players stuck together,” he added.

As of this writing, playing were the San Sebastian Stags (2-0) versus the Lyceum Pirates (2-1) and later in the day it was the Letran Knights (3-1) against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (1-2).

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