Down by as much as 15 points, the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals locked down the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Altas, allowing just two points in the final frame, to take a 67-63 win and secure the third seed going into the Final Four, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, the Mapua Cardinals end the elimination round with a 12-6 slate and will face the second seed of the tournament. On the other hand, the Perpetual Altas have backed themselves into to a tough predicament, as they will be bracketed with the top seed of the tournament.
The Altas were without Bright Akhuetie in the game due to a school-imposed suspension, according to Perpetual head coach Jimwell Gican.
Even without the Nigerian student-athlete, the Altas were able to gain a 61-46 lead with a minute remaining in the third frame, after a GJ Ylagan triple. The Cardinals, however, were able to string four straight points afterwards to boost their morale entering the final frame.
“The way I look at it, Perpetual [were] intentionally without Bright and they played with their second group,” Mapua head coach Atoy Co asserted. “Unti-unti nila pinasok third stringer nila. Biglang nawala yung sistema namin, kanya-kanya, sumama ang depensa namin.”
It was a different story in the final frame, as the Cardinals chained the Altas, not allowing a single field goal in the last 10 minutes of the game. Mapua went berserk as well on the offensive end, going on a 13-1 rally capped by a Darell Menina triple with 3:09 left to give his team a 63-62 edge. Joseph Eriobu then made a clutch jumper with 1:15 remaining to extend Mapua’s lead to a full possession.
“Kasi dumepensa kami. We cannot play that way every time. Maybe because we don’t have enough personnel,” Co reflected about his team’s fourth quarter turn-around.
Misses by Prince Eze, Kieth Pido, and Gab Dagangon did not help Perpetual’s cause. However, late in the game, the emotions reached a fever pitch. Menina and Eriobu were openly scolded by assistant coach Ed Cordero and Co respectively with 10 seconds left. Eriobu, who was crying on the court, was able to compose himself with 3.4 seconds remaining, knocking down two free throws to seal the win.
“Concerned pa rin ako. We’re trying to correct lahat ng mali namin,” Co said. “We cannot play this kind of game in the Final Four. Dapat mag-level up kami, hindi lang kaunti.”
Oraeme finished the game with 14 points and 24 rebounds. Eriobu and Andrew Estrella added 10 markers each.
For the Altas, Eze was the high point man with 12 points, while Ylagan added 10 points and six rebounds.
The Scores:
MIT (67) – Oraeme 14, Eriobu 10, Estrella 10, Victoria 8, Orquina 6, Isit 5, Menina 5, Raflores 4, Dela Rosa 4, Serrano 1, Bunag 0, Aguirre 0.
UPHSD (63) – Eze 12, Ylagan 10, Hao 9, Dagangon 7, Mangalino 6, Coronel 5, Sadiwa 5, Yuhico 4, Dizon 3, Pido 2, Gallardo 0, Oliveria 0, Singontiko 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 32-37, 50-61, 67-63
