Philip Paniamogan broke Letran College’s spirits in the final three minutes of the ballgame to lead Jose Rizal University to a 69-60 result in the resumption of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 90 seniors basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 23-year old Paniamogan recovered from his ice-cold zero-for-seven shooting in the first half to score 14 of the last 18 points by JRU during the fourth period stretch to swat away any comeback bids by last year’s runner-up team. He scored a season-best 22 points, a mere two points shy from tying his career-high set last season.

However, it was a post-game incident involving game official Ian Borbe and the Knights’ co-captains Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz that stole the show, forcing both parties to be peeled off by the arena’s bouncers. Later, the pacified referee was pelted by Letran alumni with debris and flashed his middle finger to his assailants in disgust.

The pint-sized Cruz initially confronted the official after the final buzzer, complaining about the perceived non-calls during the crucial stretches of the ballgame. Racal, together with assistant coach Mike Buendia, had to separate the irate guard from the official.

Second year Letran Head Coach Caloy Garcia, who was slapped with his second technical foul for “using profane language” and was sent to the lockers with just 11.2 seconds left in the ballgame, said that the team has been complaining about the official’s alleged biased officiating since gaining the same treatment last season.

“[Ian] Borbe was the referee that we couldn’t get calls from [since] last year. JRU played a great game [and] we started slow. But the officiating [Borbe] did on us wasn’t fair,” Garcia said.

According to the stories relayed to Garcia, Cruz was even threatened to a fist fight by Borbe. The allegation was then confirmed by the official himself during the post-match investigation by the league, according to a source close to the situation. Despite the admission, the official’s fate has been left hanging.

Paniamogan, who played under Caloy Garcia in the PBA D-League, admitted that he was checked by the Knights, which limited him to just one point in his first 11 minutes on the floor.

“Hindi ko magawa yung tira ko, dahil checked ako nung first half, kaya humingi ako ng pasensya sa mga galaw ko. Kaya binigyan ko muna si [Michael] Mabulac sa low post. Pinayo sa akin na mag-layup muna ako,” said Paniamogan.

John Grospe, Tey Teodoro, and Jaycee Asuncion also came up big in their team’s late-game push to keep the game close, scoring 10 points apiece to aid the Bombers to their second straight victory after dropping their first two assignments.

“After the 0-2 start sa season, sinabi ko sa mga players that we needed to improve. Mahirap nang maging down 0-3 or 0-4 this season. Maganda ‘yung naging execution ng plays, nandoon yung energy at effort ng mga bata,” said fifth-year JRU Head Coach Vergel Meneses.

Cruz and Racal carried the team’s scoring load during the fourth period, combining for 12 points during the final canto on their way to 19 and 17 points, respectively to lead the Knights in their third loss in four matches.

Pirates stop Cardinals’ upset bid

In the second game, Lyceum of the Philippines survived a late game onslaught by the upset-hungry Mapua Institute of Technology, 80-78, to continue the Cardinals’ frustration early in the tournament.

The shorthanded Cardinals, playing without leading scorer Joseph Eriobu after sustaining a hyperextended left knee in practice, nearly erased their seven point deficit under the last two minutes and held the Pirates to just three points during that stretch.

After Allyn Malabanan missed his second free throw, Mapua needed a basket to knot the contest and send the game to overtime, but third year guard Andoy Estrella muffed a close-range layup with two seconds left to give their Intramuros neighbors the victory.

Ex-UST Team B center Joseph Gabayni led the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocked shots, while lightning quick guard Tirso Lesmoras and Cameroonian reinforcement Guy Mbida Essono added 15 apiece.

Estrella led the winless Cardinals (0-4) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Starting center Jessie Saitanan contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, and Leo Gabo added 10.