Nate Matute came off the bench with a breakout game as Jose Rizal University continued its mastery of Letran with a 76-60 victory that kept Bombers at solo third in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament Friday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Matute erupted for the five triples to finish with a career-high 22 points, including  some crucial bombs down the stretch as the Bombers repeated over the Knights, whom they also beat, 72-62, in overtime last July 5.

JRU, which extended its winning run to three, improved to 6-2, while Letran dropped to 3-6.

Earlier, Arellano University found Mapua an easy prey in their rematch, carving out a vengeful 76-72 victory in game marred by a near-fight.

Ronnel Del Rosario celebrated his 23rd birthday with a bang with 21 points as he led the Chiefs in avenging their 51-73 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals in the first round last July 23.

A brawl almost erupted shortly after the final horn when AU’s Vergel Zulueta went after Mapua’s Andretti Stevens, who was trash-talking AU’s Adrian Celada, as both squads were preparing for the customary singing of their school hymns.

The scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 76 — Del Rosario 21, Celada 17, Acidre 11, Lapuz 8, Tayongtong 8, Ciriacruz 4, Palma 3, Zulueta 2, Casino 2, Caperal 0
MAPUA 72 — Cornejo 29, Guillermo 9, Mangahas 8, Pascual 8, Sarangay 7, Ighalo 7, Stevens 2, Parala 2, Acosta 0, Banal 0, Ranises 0, Cabrera 0
Quarters: 13-10, 39-31, 59-51, 76-72

Second Game
JOSE RIZAL 76 – Matute 22, Almario 13, Hayes 12, Lopez 8, Kabigting 6, Bulangis 6, Apinan 4, Njei 3, Montemayor 2, Etame 0, Badua 0
LETRAN 60– Belencion 14, Cortes 11, Kev. Alas 10, Espiritu 8, Taplah 5, Belorio 4, Kris. Alas 4, Dysam 3, Pantin 1, Almazan 0, Ang 0, Rodil 0
Quarters: 17-13, 42-23, 56-43, 76-60.