By: Bjorn Del Deade
Reigning Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis caught fire in the fourth quarter, leading Mapua University to a thrilling 71-65 victory over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday.
With less than four minutes remaining, Escamis scored eight of his 28 points during a 13-5 run, putting Mapua ahead by five, 67-62.
The Altas fought to stay alive, relying on rookie Mark Gojo Cruz’s corner three-pointer over Escamis with 1:16 left, cutting the deficit to 65-66.
However, Perpetual’s struggles on the defensive boards allowed Mapua’s Jeco Bancale to sink a crucial corner shot with 25.4 seconds remaining, sealing the Altas’ first loss of the season.
The Cardinals improved to a 2-1 win-loss record, tying Altas’ identical 2-1 slate.
The Cardinals turned a narrow one-point deficit, 15-16, into a 23-20 lead at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a triple by reigning MVP Clint Escamis.
Perpetual tied the game at 29-all midway through the second quarter before launching a 7-3 run to take a 36-32 lead.
With time running out in the first half, the Cardinals trimmed the deficit to one, 37-38, courtesy of John Jabonete’s three-point play heading into the third quarter.
Mapua’s Lawrence Mangubat tied the game at 42-all with a three-pointer, but Perpetual’s Mark Gojo Cruz responded with his own triple.
That ignited an 11-5 surge, pushing the Altas ahead 53-47 with five minutes left in the third frame.
However, Marc Cuenco kept the Cardinals close by draining a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the third quarter at 50-53.
Cuenco and Jabonete contributed 12 and 8 points, respectively, for Mapua.
Perpetual’s Gojo Cruz led his team with 17 points, while Christian Pagaran and Cedrick Abis each added 12 points in the loss.
Mapua will next face Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Friday, Sept. 20, at 2:30 PM at the same venue. Meanwhile, Perpetual will square off against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 12:00 PM.
The Scores:
Mapua 71 – Escamis 28, Cuenco 12, Jabonete 8, Hubilla 7, Mangubat 6, Bancale 6, Igliane 2, Agemenyi 2, Ryan 0, Concepcion 0, Fermin 0
Perpetual Help 65 – Cruz 17, Pagaran 12, Abis 12, Pizarro 9, Manuel 6, Orgo 5, Gelsano 2, Nuñez 1, Boral 1, Montemayor 0, Cauguiran 0
Quarterscores: 23-20, 37-38, 50-53, 71-65
