MAPUA made sure it didn't even need its twice-to-beat advantage, progressing past the first game of the play-in all the way to the NCAA Season 102 seniors basketball quarterfinals.
Now comes the hard part: a clash with Group B top-seed Letran.
The Cardinals punched their ticket to the final eight thanks to a methodical 83-68 conquest of Lyceum on Thursday at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Rest did wonders for the Mapua's core players who skipped Monday's 71-68 squeaker against the same Pirates crew to cap off its elimination schedule, as this time, the win came in a much more comfortable manner.
Ivan Lazarte came off the bench and jumpstarted the assault, dropping all but four of his career-best 25 points in the first half on near-perfect 9-of-10 shooting that went with five rebounds, as he set the tone for Mapua and a 19-point lead.
Little resistance was given by LPU, which could only get to as close as 11 in the second half, as it was kept at bay throughout also by Russel Liwanag who fired 15 points to go with four boards and Cyrus Cuenco who added 13 of his own for the Cardinals.
Mapua's all-around effort
"I told my players na this game will be our defense vs. their offense and na-appreciate ko naman yung players ko kasi nandoon yung effort nila and yung kagustuhan nila maglaro," said coach Chito Victolero, who drew a strong showings from up and down his roster.
Jamal Diaz also scored 11, Mythical Team member Yam Concepcion did it all with nine points, eight assists, six rebounds, three steals, and one block, and Marcus Nitura hauled down 12 boards that went with two points and four dimes.
Now, Mapua turns its attention to the Knights who will have the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
Victolero's wards won the only meeting so far between the two sides, 69-67, in overtime, but that was sans Titing Manalili for Letran back in Oct. 12.
"We're very competitive and I trust my players and the system naman that we can compete with everybody as long as we're healthy," he said of the matchup set on Tuesday.
"Mahirap kalaban ang Letran, so it will need multiple effort from us ulit."
The Pirates gave a well-deserved curtain call for their seniors, with Mac Guadaña wrapping up his collegiate career with 15 points from three triples, on top of four steals, two rebounds, and two assists, and Renz Villegas getting 12 points for his final game.
The Scores:
MAPUA 83 - Lazarte 25, Liwanag 15, Cuenco 13, Diaz 11, Concepcion 9, Ryan 4, M. Nitura 2, L. Nitura 2, Igliane 2, Timbol 0, Mendoza 0, Dones 0, Razon 0.
LYCEUM 68 - Guadaña 15, Villegas 12, Rubico 11, Daileg 8, Peñafiel 7, Ondoa 4, Aurigue 3, Manuel 3, Nocum 2, Matienzo 1, Caduyac 1, Pallingayan 1, Cardinas 0, Fuentes 0.
Quarters: 24-14, 48-33, 68-55, 83-68.
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