LAWRENCE Mangubat came to Mapua’s rescue in the endgame, lifting the Cardinals to a thrilling 69-68 win over the hard-luck Lyceum Pirates in Tuesday’s action in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
The rookie guard scored eight of his team-high 16 points in the final period, including five straight points in the last 37 seconds, highlighted no less by a dagger three for the game winner at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Cardinals have clinched a berth in the Final Four along with College of St. Benilde with their 11th win in 14 outings and remaining undefeated through five games in the second round.
The Pirates had one last shot at taking the win after Mangubat buried the go-ahead bucket, but Jonathan Daileg’s corner shot just hit the front rim at the buzzer.
“Para sa akin talaga yung play,” Mangubat bared of Mapua’s final play assigned to him by coach Randy Alcantara and set up by team captain Clint Escamis.
“Kaka-shoot ko lang kasi sa corner, kaya akin na talaga (binigay) yung play ni coach.”
Mangubat rescues Cardinals
Prior to his clutch three, Mangubat also buried a corner shot that tied the game at 66-all.
But Renz Villegas countered at the other end to give the Pirates their final taste of the lead, 68-66, before Mangubat decided to play the spoiler’s role.
Chris Hubilla had 14, Marc Cuenco with 11, and Escamis added 10 for Mapua, which continues to lurk behind league leader College of St. Benilde (11-2).
It was a heartbreaker of a loss for Lyceum which battled its way back from a 51-35 deficit in the third quarter before Villegas hit three straight free throws with 37 seconds remaining to give the Pirates their first taste of the lead, 66-64.
Villegas had the hot hands with 22 points for the Pirates, who suffered their third straight loss for a 6-8 standings and continued to fall out of the Top 4.
The scores:
Mapua (69) - Mangubat 16, Hubilla 14, Cuenco 11, Escamis 10, Concepcion 6, Igliane 4, Recto 4, Jabonete 2, Ryan 2, Abdulla 0, Bancale 0, Garcia 0.
Lyceum (68) - Villegas 22, Montaño 9, Cunanan 8, Aviles 7, Daileg 7, Guadaña 5, Barba 5, Peñafiel 3, Versoza 2, Caduyac 0, Moralejo 0.
Quarterscores: 18-12; 28-25; 54-40; 69-68.
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