Mapua University denied San Sebastian College-Recoletos a comeback win after eking out a 75-69 win, clinching a twice-to-beat bonus in the NCAA season 101 juniors basketball on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Jhillian Palis saved the day after dropping the last four points for Mapua as the Red Robins salvaged the victory despite nearly wasting a 16-point lead, improving to 8-4 in Group A and clinching a twice-to-beat quarterfinals bonus.
Palis finished with an all-around outing of 18 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and one steal while Froilan Reyes and John Bagro each chipped in 11 markers with the forner grabbing nine boards and three dimes.
An MJ Bernabe layup sent Mapua to its biggest lead at 51-35 halfway through the third period, but the Staglets, who were coming off three straight victories, staged a furious fightback behind Mark Esperanza, JC Ynot, and Angelo Aninipot.
Aninipot drained back-to-back baskets to pull San Sebastian within two, 69-71, in the final 39 seconds.
But Palis proved to be clutch, dancing through the Staglets' defense before laying it up to send the Red Robins to a 73-69 cushion before calmly sinking a pair of free throws off a Browyn Tepan foul to make it a comfortable six-point separation with only 10 ticks left.
Esperanza paced San Sebastian with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Ynot churned out 15 markers, eight dimes, and five steals in the loss that dropped them to 4-9 in Group A.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
