Andrew Estrella heated up in the all-important final period to help the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals take a 90-75 win over Intramuros-neighbors Lyceum of the Philippines University Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Estrella, who was in Mapua’s Team B last season, dropped all 12 of his points in the final frame, knocking down two triples along the way and grabbing five boards as well.
“Hindi ko alam e,” a speechless Estrella said about his fourth quarter explosion. “Naglaro lang ako at ginawa ko lang ang pinapagawa ng coaches sa akin.”
The Cardinals needed every point of Estrella’s outburst as the Pirates were able to tie the game at 66-all with 7:19 left in the game after an Edcor Marata triple.
The bulky point guard then led a game-breaking 12-2 surge with Estrella scoring five points that gave Mapua a 78-68 lead with three minutes remaining. Mike Nzeusseu tried to stop the bleeding with a bucket but Allwell Oraeme was able to blow by Nzeusseu in the next possession and score on an emphatic and-one jam.
Things got heated between the two neighbors with the game already out of reach as Oraeme, alleging that the physicality between him and the frontline of Joseph Gabayni and MJ Ayaay was too much. Oraeme was assessed a technical with 1:34 left in the game.
“The tactics sometimes really frustrates me and I can’t really react because it might cost the team,” Oraeme, who had a monster double-double with 25 points and 27 rebounds, said. “I just can’t get carried away with myself but it’s crazy.”
Even with this, the Mapua lead ballooned further to a game-high 15 point lead, 90-75, to end the game.
“This is an important win for us. Last two games, I haven’t played well,” last season’s MVP said about the win. “We needed this game for our confidence and our Final Four hopes.”
King Cardinal CJ Isit added 19 points while Laurenz Victoria notched a season-high 15 points for Mapua.
For Lyceum, Wilson Baltazar was the high point man with 17 points. Shaq Alanes added 11 markers despite shooting a horrendous 2-of-12 from the field.
The Mapua Cardinals (7-4) next face the red-hot San Sebastian Stags (3-8) on Friday, August 26 at 12:00nn. The Pirates (5-6), on the other hand, look to bounce back on the same day, facing the JRU Heavy Bombers on the same day at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
MIT (90) – Oraeme 27, Isit 19, Victoria 15, Estrella 12, Eriobu 8, Serrano 4, Biteng 3, Raflores 2, Aguirre 0, Bunag 0, Menina 0
LPU (75) – Baltazar 17, Alanes 11, Ayaay 10, Soliman 10, Marata 9, Nzeusseu 7, Caduyac 5, Gabayni 4, Magbuhos 2, Alban 0, Malabanan 0
Quarterscores: 21-26, 45-42, 62-60, 90-75
