JRU beats LPU 81-78 to reclaim NCAA Group A lead
Sanlea Peñaverde scored 22 points and Lawrence Mangubat added 12 as the Heavy Bombers improved to 8-3.
Jose Rizal University reclaimed first place in Group A of NCAA Season 102 with an 81-78 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University on October 27, 2026, surviving a late comeback despite a depleted line-up.
Sanlea Peñaverde hit six three-pointers in his season-best performance, collecting 22 points, five assists and two rebounds. Lawrence Mangubat contributed 12 points and nine assists after missing JRU’s 75-71 defeat by San Beda University.
The Heavy Bombers moved to 8-3, while LPU fell to 4-6 as its three-game winning run ended. Ivan Panapanaan supplied 10 points and 12 rebounds for JRU, which was without the injured Chris Hubilla.
JRU also lost Noel Agemenyi early in the fourth quarter when a technical foul, following an earlier flagrant foul, resulted in his ejection. Peñaverde then made three consecutive shots from beyond the arc to give JRU a 75-63 advantage.
Renz Villegas and Matthew Rubico drove LPU’s response, with a 12-4 burst narrowing the gap to 79-75. After JRU committed a shot-clock violation, Rubico completed a three-point play to bring LPU within one with 16 seconds remaining.
Mangubat made both free throws with 9.2 seconds left to establish the final margin. Villegas finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for LPU, while Jonathan Daileg scored 15 points and Rubico added 12.
