MAPUA survived the loss of two key players and then weathered a huge Emilio Aguinaldo College fightback for a 69-66 win in the NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday in San Juan's Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The Cardinals failed to protect a 13-point second half lead as they lost JC Recto to ejection and Chris Hubilla because of foul trouble in the final quarter.
But they managed to hang on as the Generals failed to convert in their final possession to finally break through to the win column.
READ: Retooled St. Benilde comes alive late to stun Mapua
Rookie Lawrence Mangubat finished with 15 points to pace Mapua - who all sported a buzzcut going to the game as a reminder of their 78-65 loss to St. Benilde on opening day - in a match they controlled three-fourths of the way before losing steam in the homestretch.
Recto added 12 points before being sent off after fouling Harvey Pagsanjan with a closed fist at the 9:17 mark of the fourth quarter.
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis had 10 and Hubilla nine prior to fouling out with 56 seconds left and Mapua just up by 65-61.
EAC fails to finish the job
EAC got dragged down to a similar 1-1 record like the Cardinals, as Pagsanjan led the team with 14 points and team captain King Gurtiza got 11.
But unlike their overtime win over Arellano last Sunday, the Generals just couldn’t pull this one off as split free throws by Pagsanjan and Wilmar Oftana, and two misses on point-blank range by Gurtiza doomed them in the endgame.
Mapua had its biggest lead at 52-39 in the middle of the third quarter.
The scores:
MAPUA 69 – Mangubat 15, Recto 12, Escamis 10, Hubilla 9, Cuenco 6, Igliane 6, Jabonete 6, Bancale 4, Ryan 1, Agemenyi 0, Concepcion 0, Fermin 0.
EAC 66 – Pagsanjan 14, Gurtiza 11, Oftana 8, Loristo 6, Bagay 6, Lucero 5, Bacud 4, Doromal 4, Quinal 4, Ochavo 2, Manacho 1, Devera 1, Umpad 0, Luciano 0, Angeles 0.
Quarters: 24-13; 39-27; 56-48; 69-66.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
