MAPUA leaned on a big third quarter to finally create separation and take a 91-72 victory over San Sebastian in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Friday.
Cy Cuenco and reigning MVP Clint Escamis combined in a late third quarter run which turned a precarious four point lead at the interval to a commanding 65-48 lead entering the payoff period for the Cardinals.
The Stags opened the fourth with an 11-0 run to trim the lead to six, but Cuenco responded in kind with a couple of baskets of his own to douse cold water on that uprising Stags, and cruise to a comfortable win which pushed them to a three-way tie with Letran and Perpetual – two teams also sporting 4-2 records.
Cuenco finished with a career-high 26 points on a highly-efficient 10-15 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
“Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa mga teammates ko sa tiwalang binibigay nila. Kumpyansa lang,” Cuenco said, while noting how their loss to the Lyceum Pirates lit a fire in them heading into this game.
“Yung last game namin yung defense namin medyo panget e. Kaya nagfocus lang kami sa individual defense at mga schemes namin. Tyaka yung energy at effort namin, yun ang kulang namin last game e, so double effort kami ngayong game.”
Escamis finished with 25 points, four assists and two steals for coach Randy Alcantara and the Cardinals while hulking rookie Chris Hubilla overcame foul trouble to finish with 12 points.
Tristan Felebrico led the way for the Stags with 20 points and nine rebounds while Paeng Are chipped in 17 but that wasn't enough as they fell to their fifth straight loss after a sizzling start to the season, dropping to 2-5.
The scores:
MAPUA 91 - Cuenco 26, Escamis 25, Hubilla 12, Bancale 6, Igliane 6, Jabonete 6, Concepcion 6, Mangubat 4, Abdulla 0, Fermin 0, Pantaleon 0, Agemenyi 0
SAN SEBASTIAN 72 - Felebrico 20, Are 17, Aguilar 9, Cruz 8, Escobido 7, L. Gabat 3, Suico 3, Velasco 2, Lintol 2, R. Gabat 1, Pascual 0, Ricio 0, Ramilo 0
Quarters: 22-12, 39-35, 65-48, 91-72
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