Mapua University defeated Group A leader University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 77-61, on Friday in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Centre.
Clint Escamis led the Cardinals with 18 points, five assists, two rebounds, and a steal as the Intramuros-based squad improved to 6-5 and notched its second straight win to solidify its hold on the second spot in the group.
The Altas, meanwhile, slipped to 8-3 but remained on top of the Group A standings despite their second consecutive loss.
After a tight first period that ended in Mapua’s favor, 16-12, the Cardinals pulled away in the second and third quarters, scoring 24 and 18 points, respectively, while limiting Perpetual to just 30 points combined in those frames. Perpetual attempted a rally in the fourth period and inched closer, 62-55, with around 5:35 remaining.
Yam Concepcion’s split from the line and a triple by Cyrus Cuenco restored Mapua’s double-digit lead, before a JP Boral free throw off a Marc Igliane foul temporarily stopped the bleeding for the Cardinals.
Escamis then sank a free throw off a Mark Gojo Cruz technical foul before draining a triple that virtually sealed the victory, followed by an EJ Sapasap basket with around 2:25 left.
It proved enough for the Cardinals, who held off the Altas until the final buzzer.
Aside from Escamis, Cuenco chipped in 13 points, while Concepcion and Sapasap added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Josiah Alcantara, meanwhile, was the only double-digit scorer for the Altas with 10 points.
Scores:
Mapua 77 – Escamis 18, Cuenco 13, Concepcion 11, Sapasap 10, Gonzales 8, Igliane 7, Delos Reyes 4, Nitura 2, Lazarte 2, Abdulla 2, Recto 0, Callangan 0, Ryan 0, Gulapa 0, Reyes 0.
Perpetual 61 – Alcantara 10, Sleat 9, Maglupay 9, Gojo Cruz 8, Boral 8, Casinilio 6, Tulabut 5, Orgo 3, Abis 2, Nuñez 1, Pagulayan 0, Guibao 0, Duremdes 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 40-30, 58-42, 77-61.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
