FRESH from its successful stint in the NCAA where it ended a long title drought, Mapua aims for another championship as it tries to extend its magical run beginning with its campaign in the Pinoyliga Next Man cUP Season 3 that kicks off Saturday (February 1) at the Enderun Colleges Gym in Taguig City.
Mapua captured the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball championship last December following a two-game sweep of College of St. Benilde in the best-of-three finals.
It was the sixth NCAA championship for the Cardinals, and first in 33 years or since the Intramuros-based school won back-to-back in 1990 and 1991 seasons.
The focus now for Mapua is the Next Man cUP.
The meet gives participating teams the chance to suit up their players from Team B or even those still serving residency to display their skills before moving up to the regular squad.
Mapua takes on New Era University in the main game of a triple header at 6 p.m.
San Beda University meets Enderun Colleges in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m., before Lyceum of the Philippines University clashes against Guang Ming College at 4 p.m.
Mapua coach Randy Alcantara said the tournament is an opportunity for the school not just to look at potential players, but also a chance for the team to prepare early for NCAA Season 101 since the Cardinals will be missing two graduating players in guard Joaqui Garcia and forward Aaron Fermin.
“This gives us a head start and look at the players we may move up to Team A. We’ll have two open spots, but it doesn’t mean that our holdovers, who are part of the champion team, are assured of a spot because we have at least five players who are really capable of helping us next season,” said Alcantara, who is part of the 1990 and 1991 Mapua team that won back-to-back NCAA championships.
“We’ll definitely go all out in this tournament. We want the players to take this seriously because we’ll look at their performance,” added Alcantara.
The five players Alcantara mentioned are Cyril Gonzales, Ivan Lazarte, Marcus Nitura, Drex de los Reyes and Joemakio Gulapa.
A total of 15 teams are seeing action in the meet and are divided into two groups.
Prime group will have Mapua, De La Salle University, Ateneo, LPU and St. Dominic College of Asia, while in the Edge group are UAAP champion University of the Philippines, San Beda, Lyceum, Enderun, Guang Ming, and Next Man cUP Season 2 champion College of St. Benilde.
The tournament is presented by Shawarma Shack and backed by Smart, Kick-Start Coffee, Amelie Hotel, Eastern Communications, LGR, Enderun Colleges, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, with Benny Benitez of Prime Edge Marketing Consultancy and Pinoyliga.com. serving as tournament director.
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