Mapua University escaped Arellano University, 85–83, to seal the top spot in Group A of the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball tournament on Friday at the Filoil Centre.
The Red Robins improved to 9–4 to wrap up the group phase in first place, while the Braves slipped to 8–5 to finish second.
Mapua led, 84–80, with 1:09 remaining in the fourth period before Shawn Vergara drilled a triple to trim the deficit. However, a split at the line from MJ Bernabe off an Aaron Manansala foul ultimately sealed the victory.
Moments earlier, at the 1:32 mark of the fourth period, Ray Ladica suffered a freak accident, taking a bad fall that resulted in him being stretchered off the court.
Froilan Reyes led the Red Robins with 29 points, highlighted by four triples, along with five rebounds and two assists. Jhillian Palis added 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Before his injury, Ladica tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal, while Sean Franco contributed 20 points.
Twice-to-beat Mapua will face the winner of the play-in between San Beda University and Jose Rizal University in the quarterfinals. Arellano, meanwhile, will take on the second seed of Group B, which will be either Colegio de San Juan de Letran or De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde-–La Salle Green Hills.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
