NCAA: Cyrus Cuenco's late-game heroics fuel Mapua's five-game surge, back-to-back OT victories

Cyrus Cuenco has been pivotal to Mapua’s five-game winning streak in NCAA Season 102, delivering when it matters most in two crucial outings.

Against Intramuros rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Monday, the Mapua team captain finished with 11 points, three steals, and two assists to help the Cardinals fend off the Knights in overtime, 69-67.

Cuenco followed it up with another clutch performance just days later, taking over in overtime against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Friday.

The veteran guard poured in nine of his game-high 17 points in the extra period, knocking down two triples and completing an and-one play to put the finishing touches on Mapúa’s 65-60 win.

His back-to-back clutch performances earned him Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Player of the Week honors for the period of October 12 to 16.

After stumbling out the gates with three consecutive losses, the five-game surge improved Mapúa's record to 5-3 in Group A, putting the Cardinals level with reigning champion San Beda.

Cuenco became the second Mapua Cardinal to receive the weekly distinction in Season 102, following Yam Concepcion, who earned the honor for the period of September 28 to October 2.


He edged out Concepcion, Letran’s Chad Gammad, College of Saint Benilde’s Joseph Nunag, and Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Renz Villegas and Mclaude Guadaña for the latest CPC Player of the Week award.

—Keith Barbarona/JKC, GMA News