Jose Rizal University (JRU) relied on their inexperienced wards, repulsing erstwhile league leader Arellano University, 99-98, in triple overtime in NCAA seniors’ basketball action Friday at the San Juan Arena.

Team captain Michael Mabulac tallied 21 points and 19 rebounds in a Herculean performance, but it was the likes of Jaycee Asuncion, Tey-Tey Teodoro, Abdul Wahab Abdul Razak, and Clint Munez who towed their team to victory.

“You saw our rookies, they hardly trembled. In fact, I was the one who got more rattled than them,” Mabulac told Fullcourtfresh.com after the game.

The Heavy Bombers started the game dry, allowing the Chiefs to score the first ten points of the match.

They were even down, 49-59, midway in the fourth quarter but an 18-3 blitzkrieg Abdul Wahab and guard Philip Paniamogan lifted JRU to a 67-62 lead.

After furious exchanges late in the fourth quarter and the three succeeding overtimes, JRU grabbed a 99-96 lead with 25 seconds left with two free throws from Asuncion, who also scored 21 points.

After a short stab by Arellano forward Dioncee Holts which trimmed JRU’s lead, 98-99, the Chiefs regained possession as Levi Hernandez and Allen Enriquez forced a jump ball against the inexperienced Munez.

With 14 seconds left, Munez made up for his mistake by swatting a possible game-winning floater by Jiovani Jalalon.

“Any team can beat any team. There is no top or bottom team here,” commented JRU head coach Vergel Meneses. “I’m not asking for a win, I’m just asking them to play every night with their best game.”

The win lifted JRU to 4-3 in a tie with the Lyceum Pirates for fourth place.

The Chiefs, led by Holts with 25 points and ten rebounds, drop to solo second place at 5-2.