MAPUA got back to its winning ways in the NCAA Season 94 as it outlasted a streaking Emilio Aguinaldo College, 80-67, on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Cardinals went on a huge fourth quarter behind Noah Lugo and Laurenz Victoria who took turns in blasting the Generals in the payoff period.
Up by just two entering the fourth period, the pair conspired in a 13-2 attack, capped off by a Victoria jumper to give the Cardinals 63-52 lead, a spread they meticulously protected ‘til the final buzzer.
The two combined for 19 points in the final period, outscoring the Generals as a team by two as they snapped their three-game skid and improved to 5-11.
“Talagang pinagtrabahuhan namin yung depensa namin. Nung mga nakaraang araw, yun talaga focus namin. Yung opensa darating naman e,” said Victoria after the match.
“Yun yung sabi sa amin ni coach Randy (Alcantara) na tapusin namin yung season ng maganda para mataas morale namin next season,” he added.
Lugo finished with 18 points and four assists while Victoria finished with 15 points, six assists and four steals.
Rookie Warren Bonifacio had 11 points and two blocks.
Hamadou Laminou finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds as JP Magullano finished with 15 points for the Generals who saw their two-game winning run get snapped to drop to 4-12.
The scores:
MAPUA 80 -- Lugo 18, Victoria 15, Bonifacio 11, Biteng 8, Serrano 7, Aguirre 6, Pelayo 5, Gamboa 4, Bunag 4, Jabel 2, Salenga 0, Nieles 0.
EAC 67 -- Laminou 21, Magullano 15, Garcia 10, Bautista 6, Mendoza 6, Gonzales 4, Tampoc 3, Cadua 2, Corilla 0, Natividad 0, Neri 0, Bugarin 0.
Quarters: 13-15, 33-24, 52-50, 80-67.
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