The Mapua Cardinals showed intensity all throughout as they held off repeated rallies and frustrated the Arellano University Chiefs, 91-83, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Five teammates flaunted the Cards’ vaunted offense on the floor, with Christian Bunag firing 16 points and hauling 10 rebounds to power Mapua to its second triumph in four games in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Eric Jabel struck with 15 points for the Cardinals, including nine points in the first period. He combined for 16 points with Bunag to help carry Mapua to a 31-22 spread when the second half got under way.
The Cardinals, with Cedric Pelayo making nine of 13 points in the last quarter, never let the Chiefs take the lead, as they went on to enjoy a 52-40 halftime spread.
Warren Bonifacio and Noah Lugo contributed 12 points apiece for the Cardinals, who now share the same win-loss slate with the Chiefs at third spot.
“I told my teammates to stay composed. Hindi namin sinabayan ang Arellano tuwing sinusubukan nilang mag-rally,” said team skipper Laurenz Victoria on behalf of coach Atoy Co.
The last time the Chiefs came close, 63-71, the Cards drew back-to-back baskets from Jabel to stay out of trouble.
Earlier, Clement Lentcheu knocked in 20 points for the College of St. Benilde Blazers as they put away winless Jose Rizal University, 81-66, for their second triumph in three outings.
Coach TY Tang said he encouraged the team to show consistency, being a young team that has not been together for a long period.
Lentcheu strung up 10 points in the second period, helping the Blazers pull away by 10, 37-27, at halftime.
In the junior division, Clint Escamis unloaded 32 points to power the Malayan Red Robins to a 107-96 overtime win over the Arellano Braves, who suffered their first setback after four outings.
Escamis’ triple touched off an 8-0 blast at the start of the extra period and broke a 92-all regulation tie as the Red Robins went on to improve at 2-1.
“Lumabas kung sino ang gustong manalo. Nag-relax kami sa fourth. Nagbigay kami ng 33 points. Ito ang kapalit nu’n,” said Red Robins’ coach Randy Alcantara.
The Braves now share the lead with the La Salle Greenhills Greenies, who won over the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 94-87, in double overtime.
Joel Cagulangan shot 31 points for the Greenies, who banked on back-to-back baskets from Batang Gilas cager RC Calimag in the second overtime in order to grab the upperhand, 85-81, with 4:20 remaining.
JRU’s Marwin Dionisio put the match into a second extension with his triple at the buzzer.
It was Greenies cager Joshua David’s trey which sent the game into its first overtime, 71-all.