Cyril Gonzales banged 13 points for the Mapua University Cardinals as they prevailed over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 76-66, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying Sports Center in San Juan.
Paolo Hernandez finished with 11 points for the Cardinals, who picked up their second win in seven games in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Cardinals, with Laurenz Victoria adding 10 points, were up by one, 35-34, early in the third period when they found the right time to move out of reach.
They unloaded a 21-0 blast to take a 56-34 lead before the fourth canto got under way.
“Galing kami sa 0-5, down ang mga bata, pero ang focus lang namin is one game at a time,” said Cardinals assistant coach Yong Garcia.
JC Luciano had 12 points for the Generals, who have a 1-6 win-loss slate.
Earlier, RC Calimag and Kobe Palencia sizzled with 19 and 17 points for La Salle Greenhills Greenies as they got past the Arellano Braves, 71-66.
Jiam Quimbao added 13 points for the Greenies, who were safe with their 58-48 edge at the end of the third period.
Rookie Megan Galang struck with 16 points as the defending champion Malayan High School Red Robins High School finally got their title defense going with an 83-68 swamping of the EAC Brigadiers.
Main man Jonnel Policarpio came up with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double showing to help push the Red Robins to their second win in seven matches.