By: Joaquin Cortez
Exactly three weeks ago, Mapúa University found itself at the bottom of the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament standings.
Now, the Cardinals have emerged as one of the league’s hottest teams, riding a four-game winning streak after a rocky start under returning head coach Chito Victolero.
Mapúa opened its campaign with three straight defeats, suffering one-point losses to Jose Rizal University and Lyceum of the Philippines University. It then absorbed an 82-77 setback against an injury-hit College of Saint Benilde.
However, the Cardinals have since turned their fortunes around. The team has strung together four consecutive victories to improve to a 4-3 record and remain unbeaten in the crossover round.
Victolero — who returned to his alma mater after 14 years following his stint as head coach of the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA — admitted that he did not anticipate the turnaround. He stressed, however, that the team remains focused on establishing its identity rather than dwelling on its recent success.
“No,” the former PBA head coach said when asked if he expected the turnaround.
“We’re trying to have that identity na gusto namin. Itong win is a bonus; it’s a God’s win na nandito kami ngayon na we’re winning,” he said.
Mapúa’s resurgence began with a narrow 55-54 victory over defending champions San Beda University on September 28. Rookie Jamal Diaz delivered late-game heroics to help the Cardinals close the group phase on a high note.
The Cardinals carried that momentum into the crossover round. They took down Arellano University, 69-55, to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season. They next outlasted Emilio Aguinaldo College, 89-84, in overtime.
Mapúa then escaped Colegio de San Juan de Letran in another overtime thriller on Monday, 69-67, overcoming the loss of a 15-point second-half lead to extend its winning streak to four games.
The Cardinals’ ability to survive close contests has also become a defining feature of their campaign, with six of their seven games decided by five points or fewer.
For Victolero, the early setbacks have become valuable learning experiences for a team adjusting to a new system and a changing roster.
“All the sacrifices and all the tough losses, we learned a lot from that. Lagi ko naman sinasabi sa kanila na there’s a reason kung bakit kami natalo sa mga ganong sitwasyon,” Victolero said.
“Panalo pa, talo pa, and there’s always a reason why God teaches us how to win close games, how to execute, and how to stay positive on all the mistakes we commit during that stretch.”
With the departure of former star guard Clint Escamis, who helped lead Mapúa to the championship just two seasons ago, the Cardinals have entered a rebuilding phase while integrating young talents such as Diaz, Lance Nitura, and Ken Dones.
Victolero stressed that developing younger players while establishing a clear team identity remains central to the Cardinals’ progress. He emphasized that their goal is to become the league’s best defensive team.
“We’re trying to give opportunity to everyone, but of course, they know that our identity is that we want to be the best defensive team in the league,” he said.
The coach added that the team’s string of close games has accelerated its development, particularly in late-game situations, where composure and execution have become increasingly important.
“We are more composed right now during end-game situations. In the last two minutes, overtime, we are more composed. The players, sanay na sila,” he said.
Looking ahead, Victolero stressed that the Cardinals must continue to improve as the competition intensifies, treating their recent victories as stepping stones toward bigger challenges.
“Of course, the small things, ’yun ’yung nakukuha namin ngayon, ’yung maliliit na battles. The bigger battles would be in November. Sabi ko nga noon, ‘I want to be good in September, I want to be better in October, and I want to be great in November.’”
For a team that began the season with three straight losses, the turnaround has offered a glimpse of its potential. But with the bigger battles still ahead, Mapúa’s pursuit of another breakthrough remains far from over.
