For the fourth consecutive playoff meeting, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde has come up short against Mapua University, and Blazers head coach Charles Tiu didn’t hesitate to point this out on Wednesday.
Benilde, holding a twice-to-beat bonus in the NCAA Season 101 quarterfinals, fell flat early before staging a third quarter fightback against the defending champions Cardinals.
But the Blazers just lost steam in the endgame, allowing Mapua to take a convincing 73-58 win to force a knockout game on Friday.
The loss marked the fourth time in a row that Benilde succumbed to Mapua in a playoff game dating back to 2023.
In Season 99, the Blazers bowed to the Cardinals in semifinals before Mapua lost to San Beda in the finals. Mapua and Benilde met again in the Season 100 championship round, which saw the Cardinals sweep the Blazers to capture their first title in 33 years.
"We didn’t play. I thought, as usual, ‘pag Mapua parang takot ‘yung mga boys. I don’t know, for some reason, we just didn’t show up to play," Tiu told reporters.
"I'm disappointed. Larong takot. Parang duwag ‘yung players namin today."
(We didn’t play. I thought, as usual, when we play Mapua it’s like the boys are scared. I don’t know, for some reason, we just didn’t show up to play… I’m disappointed. Scared play. It’s like our players today were scared.)
Nothing went right for the Blazers in a game they were favored to win against a Mapua team that has been shaky this season.
Benilde struggled from the field, connecting on just 27.4 percent of their shots, a steep drop from their 42.5 percent mark in the group stage. The Blazers also committed 15 turnovers, which Mapua converted into 16 points.
Benilde also failed to capitalize on a cold shooting night from Mapua’s graduating guard Clint Escamis after he went 0-of-10 from the field.
Cyril Gonzales and JC Recto carried the load with 17 and 11 points. Cyrus Cuenco was also huge with 10 markers and six rebounds while big man Drex Delos Reyes churned out nine points and six rebounds in his matchup against counterparts Allen Liwag and Shawn Umali.
Liwag, the reigning MVP, was held to seven points, though he did grab 11 rebounds, while Umali finished with 10 markers.
Tiu admitted they lost their identity in the game after letting Mapua get the momentum early on the way to the 15-point victory.
"That wasn’t our game. We kept throwing the ball away. They got in our heads, the guys got frustrated and couldn’t get their composure," Tiu added.
"At the end of the day, we had a lot of open shots but we couldn’t make open shots and we couldn’t make free throws. That was the story."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
