Jamal Diaz’s late-game heroics lifted Mapúa University past San Beda University, 55-54, for its first win in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Monday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The rookie guard from University of the East powered the Cardinals down the stretch, drilling back-to-back three-pointers to stun the Red Lions.
Trailing by five with 52.6 seconds remaining, Diaz knocked down a triple to cut San Beda’s lead to 54-52. Still battling for the lead, he then buried a huge go-ahead three from downtown with 12.4 seconds left to put Mapúa ahead, 55-54.
On San Beda’s final possession, Jimmy Reyes had an open look from deep, but his shot rimmed out as the Cardinals held on for the victory.
“Lakas lang din ng loob ko na tinira ko ‘yun. Pero wala, yun na yun, shumoot lang. Kaya, swerte lang din talaga po,” Diaz said of his go-ahead triple.
“Pinaghirapan ko ‘tong mga ‘to kaya pumasok ‘yong mga tira ko. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na ‘yong panalo namin. Galing kami sa baba. Ang sarap ng feeling na umangat ulit ang kumpiyansa namin.”
Diaz finished with eight points, six of which came in the final minute, along with five rebounds in 12 minutes of action.
The Cardinals concluded the first round of the group stage with a 1-3 record in Group A, while the Red Lions finished at 2-2 heading into the crossover round.
Mapúa opened the second quarter with a 4-0 run to extend its lead. However, San Beda responded by outscoring the Cardinals, 17-2, the rest of the period. By halftime, it had reclaimed the lead, 26-23.
The Red Lions continued to ride their momentum into the third quarter, opening the period with a 10-2 run behind RC Calimag’s hot shooting to build their biggest lead of the game at 36-25.
The Cardinals, however, caught fire from deep in the fourth quarter. The team knocked down four three-pointers in the opening 3:35 to erase San Beda’s nine-point advantage and pull within one, 43-42, with 6:25 remaining.
That set the stage for Diaz, whom head coach Chito Victolero had challenged at halftime.
“In the last two minutes, he was in the end game because of his ‘kapal ng mukha.’ Noong halftime, pinagalitan ko siya, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bakit ka nandiyan?’” said Victolero.
“That’s why binigyan ko siya ng chance in the second half kasi alam kong ma-cha-challenge siya doon sa akin.”
Cyrus Cuenco led Mapúa with a game-high 19 points and four rebounds, serving as the team’s lone double-digit scorer.
For San Beda, Calimag finished with 18 points on an efficient 7-for-8 shooting clip. Laurence Hawkins and Sean Torculas added 13 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
The Cardinals will face Arellano University on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 3:00 PM. Meanwhile, the Red Lions will take on San Sebastian College-Recoletos as they begin the crossover round on Friday, Oct. 2, at 5:00 PM.
Both games will take place at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Scores:
Mapúa 55 – Cuenco 19, Diaz 8, Razon 7, Dones 5, Concepcion 4, M. Nitura 4, Igliane 4, L. Nitura 2, Liwanag 2, Reyes 0, Mendoza 0.
San Beda 54 – Calimag 18, Hawkins 13, Torculas 10, Reyes 5, Lina 4, Puno 3, Marcelo 1, Estacio 0, Bonzalida 0, Jamora 0, Ugaddan 0, Songcuya 0, Sarigumba 0.
Quarterscores: 17-9, 23-26, 30-39, 55-54.
