The Mapua University Cardinals picked up a third consecutive victory after fending off a furious San Sebastian comeback, 65-59, in NCAA Season 97 action on Tuesday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
With the win, Mapua improved to 3-0 to join Letran and San Beda on top of the team standings.
Warren Bonifacio led the Cardinals with 16 points and 14 rebounds in a huge double-double performance. Brian Lacap added 14 points while Paolo Hernandez chipped in with an all-around performance of 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
The Stags were led by JM Calma and Ichie Altamarino, who both finished with 10 points. Calma also grabbed nine rebounds in the loss.
San Sebastian got off to a strong start, scoring the first six points as they took the early lead by holding Mapua without a basket for close to seven minutes to open the game. The first quarter ended with the Stags ahead, 12-7.
The Cardinals, though, got their offense going in the second quarter, where they shot 10-for-15 (66.7-percent) thanks to some better ball movement to the tune of eight assists. Mapua closed the first half on a 10-2 run as they moved into the lead, 29-23.
Bonifacio already had eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists by halftime.
The floodgates opened for the Mapua offense in the third quarter, particularly in a 12-2 run that was capped by three unanswered three-pointers care of Lacap and Jeric Pido. That gave the Cardinals their biggest lead of 19 points, 47-28.
San Sebastian, though, immediately began chipping away at that difference, closing in to just 12 by the end of the third.
In the fourth quarter, back-to-back baskets from Kenneth Villapando and Calma got them to within six points, 53-47, before a booming triple from Altamirano got the Stags to within five, 55-50, with 5:31 remaining.
Back-to-back hits from Bonifacio restored some order for Mapua, but another three from Altamirano and a huge basket from Calma made it a four-point game, 59-55, just outside the last two minute mark.
But just like their previous win, it was Hernandez who came up big for the Cardinals, knocking down a clutch trey to make it 62-55 with 1:39 on the clock.
The Stags continued to threaten from there but the Cardinals sealed it with a Bonifacio steal and two free throws by Hernandez in the end.
Mapua returns to action against defending champion Letran on Friday while San Sebastian takes on San Beda on the same day.
The scores:
Mapua 65 — Bonifacio 16, Lacap 14, Hernandez 12, Nocum 8, Mercado 6, Pido 4, Garcia 2, Agustin 2, Mila 1, Sual 0.
San Sebastian 59 – Calma 10, Altamirano 10, Calahat 8, Villapando 8, Sumoda 6, Dela Cruz 6, Cosari 6, Are 2, Shanoda 2, Felebrico 1, Una 0, Desoyo 0, Loristo 0, Abarquez 0, Gabat 0.
Quarters: 7-12, 29-23, 53-41, 65-59
—JMB, GMA News
