MAPUA knew nothing was going to come easy in its bid for back-to-back NCAA titles.
And it couldn’t be any more evident in its first game of the season.
The Cardinals had to pull out all stops — needing all 40 minutes of regulation and 10 more — to survive Lyceum in double-overtime, 90-89, on Wednesday in a pulsating opener of Season 101 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cy Cuenco drained the game winning free throw with 12 seconds remaining in the game to finally put away a gritty Pirates squad who stormed back from a 10-point deficit in regulation and at one point held a five point lead in the first overtime period against the reigning, defending NCAA champions.
Come at the champs, best not miss
But the Pirates, as gritty and courageous as they were, failed to put the finishing touches, leaving room for JC Recto and EJ Sapasap to save the vulnerable Cardinals who had to survive an off night from their captain and MVP in Clint Escamis and five missed free throws in the second overtime.
“Alam namin kami na ready kami sa game na’to na hindi magiging madali. Yun ang palagi naming sinasabi sa mga players namin, na even the coaches naniniwala na kahit sino ang kalaban mo diyan hindi magiging madali,” Mapua assistant coach JR Carlos said who had to step-in for coach Randy Alcantara in the post-game interview with the Mapua mentor who’s had documented heart issues having to catch his breath after that thriller.
“Being the defending champion, nandun yung alam namin na gusto nila kaming talunin. Walang magiging madali sa season na’to. Until the end nga, until the final six seconds hindi natin alam kung sino mananalo.”
With Escamis fouling out midway through the overtime period, Recto took over for the Cardinals – scoring 10 of his 16 points in the extra 10 minutes of the game as the Cardinals avoided an opening day upset.
“Ineexpect namin na magiging tough yung game. Ready ang Lyceum at champion kami so lahat ng team gusto kaming talunin. So ayun, niready namin ang sarili namin na lahat ng games ay magiging tough,” Recto said as he added nine rebounds, five steals and three assists to his name.
Sapasap, the rookie out of Tarlac, also finished with 16 points and four steals. Cuenco added 14 points, Yam Concepcion chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds while the returning Cyril Gonzales chipped in 11 points and five assists.
It was a tough first game for Escamis who finished with eight points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field.
Renz Villegas led the way for the Pirates with 23 points while Michael Versoza chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Pirates.
Like Mapua, the Pirates also saw their main man struggle as Ato Barga was limited to just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting, though the lanky wing did have seven assists and five rebounds to his name.
The scores:
MAPÚA 90 – Recto 16, Sapasap 16, Cuenco 14, Concepcion 13, Gonzales 11, Escamis 8, Igliane 8, Ryan 2, Gulapa 2, Nitura 0, Lazarte 0, Delos Reyes 0, Reyes 0, Abdulla 0
LYCEUM 89 – Villegas 23, Versoza 14, Daileg 13, Barba 8, Pallingayan 7, Gordon 5, Aurige 5, Aviles 5, Matienzo 4, Moralejo 3, Montaño 2, Peñafiel 0
Quarters: 19-21, 34-44, 63-55, 74-74 (reg.), 80-80 (1OT), 90-89 (2OT)
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