Bombers turn to Bordon in repelling Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines – Jose Rizal went to rookie transferee Aaron Bordon when Teytey Teodoro struggled as it downed undermanned Mapua, 68-59, on Tuesday to finish third after the first round of the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena, San Juan City.

The 23-year-old Bordon, a Cavite State University recruit who averaged 5.5 points entering the game, fired a career-high 23 points to power the Bombers to their fourth straight win and sixth overall against three defeats. The victory was good for solo third spot.

Bordon’s effort has more than made up for the lackluster performance of Teodoro, who was held to just seven points after norming a team-high 13.9 points a game coming into this one.

“He has the potential but he just need to be pushed,” Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses said of Bordon.

Meneses was also dissatisfied with how his team finished the game as they nearly blew a 19-point fourth quarter lead.

“A win is a win, but the way we won, I’m not happy about it. Our turnovers helped them to get back, they converted on our turnovers. Good thing we made our shots in the end,” he said.

Jed Mendoza scored 12 points while Ervin Grospe and Mark dela Virgen chipped in 11 apiece.

Ghana’s AbdulWahan AbdulRazak did most of the dirty work by plucking 21 rebounds, which tied the season’s best once held by Perpetual Help’s Prince Eze of Nigeria, while adding five points and a block.

Interestingly, Mapua’s Christian Bunag also grabbed 21 boards to join AbdulRazak and Eze in that elite group.

The Cardinals, who have lost their three best players — Allwell Oraeme, Shane Menina and Andoy Estrella — due to various reasons, fell to 1-8.

The scores:

Jose Rizal 68- Bordon 17, Mendoza 12, Grospe 11, dela Virgen 11, Teodoro 7, Abdul Razak 5, Poutouochi 3, Mate 2, Sawat 0, David 0

Mapua 59- Bunag 15, Victoria 12, Gabo 8, Aquirre 8, Pelayo 6, Nieles 4, Raflores 4, Jimenez 2

Quarterscores: 19-16, 38-34; 49-42; 68-59