MAPUA continued to make a spirited run in the second round of the NCAA Season 95 seniors basketball tournament, blasting Arellano, 93-67, Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Cardinals have now won their third straight and has racked six victories in their last seven games to pull level with St. Benilde for the fifth spot at 6-6.
Laurenz Victoria poured all of his 10 points in the first half, to go with three rebounds and two assists to set the stage for five other players notching double-digits in scoring.
Justin Serrano unloaded 15 points, eight boards, and two assists, Cyril Gonzales added 14 points, and Joaqui Garcia shot 4-of-5 from deep to finish with 12 points and two rebounds to ignite Mapua's 27-point third quarter pullaway.
Garcia's blazing night allowed the Cardinals to hold a 69-52 lead, whoch further swelled to as high as 29, 89-60 with a Jasper Salenga bucket in the final 3:49 to snare the easy win.
"Sobrang tinrabaho ito ng mga players on both ends. Buti nag-click din yung outside shooting namin," said coach Randy Alcantara, whose side shot on a 11-of-25 clip from downtown.
Mapua also avenged its first round defeat to Arellano back in August 10, where the Chiefs got the better of the Cardinals, 73-64.
Kent Salado dropped 23 points, eight assists, and six rebounds to lead Arellano (3-10), while Rence Alcoriza had 14 points and two boards.
The Scores:
MAPUA 93 -- Serrano 15, Gonzales 14, Garcia 12, Lugo 11, Bonifacio 11, Victoria 10, Nocum 5, Bunag 4, Aguirre 4, Gamboa 3, Salenga 2, Jabel 2, Nieles 0, Dela Cruz 0.
ARELLANO 67 -- Salado 23, Alcoriza 14, Espiritu 7, Sunga 6, Concepcion 3, Bayla 3, Arana 4, Sablan 3, Talampas 3, Segura 2, Sacramento 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 42-33, 69-52, 93-67.