Juaqui Garcia powered Mapua University in the fourth quarter to down Jose Rizal University, 74-49, in the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Garcia scored eight of his 17 points in the fourth quarter on 62.5-percent shooting beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds and two assists.
Mapua was by as much as 13, 53-40, at the start of the payoff period. Then the trio of Toby Agustin, Garcia, and Jomer Mercado joined hands for a 10-4 run – capped by a Garcia triple on the wing – to give the Cardinals a 22-point cushion, 66-44, with 4:05 left in the game.
The lead grew to as many as 25 points in the match. Brian Lacap ended the game with a buzzer-beating trey.
“Well, credit dun sa players dahil focus dun sila sa game. And na-execute ng maayos ‘yung game plan, especially on our defense,” said Mapua assistant coach Yong Garcia.
“Talaga ‘yung sakripisyo ni [Juaqui], ‘yung ginagawa niyang extra practice lumabas sa game na ngayon,” he added.
With JRU down by eight, 31-39, in the third quarter, Marwin Dionisio cut the deficit to six with a jumper at the 7:29 mark. However, that was the closest the Heavy Bombers could get.
From there, the Cardinals dominated the third period – leading by as many as 14 points, 51-37, following a Garcia triple off a Marc Cuenco assist with 2:55 left in the third period.
A near-scuffle then happened with 2:36 left in the third period. Cuenco was on the floor to steal the ball from Joshua Guiab, before starting to kick away John Amores.
Adrian Nocum provided the much-needed assist with 12 markers, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Warren Bonifacio added 10 points, four boards, two assists, and a block, while Mercado topped the rebounding department with nine to go with seven points.
Jonathan Media paced the Heavy Bombers with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, along with five rebounds, an assist, and a block. Dionisio scored 12 markers, seven rebounds, two assists, and a block.
The Cardinals improved to 5-9. On the other hand, the Heavy Bombers (5-5) remain winless since their comeback from health and safety protocols.
Mapua will have a one-week break and will be back against Arellano University on Wednesday, 12:00 NN. JRU will look to snap its losing streak against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Friday, also at 12:00 NN.
The Scores:
Mapua 74 — Garcia 17, Nocum 12, Bonifacio 10, Mercado 7, Hernandez 7, Cuenco 5, Pido 5, Lacap 4, Agustin 3, Salenga 2, Soriano 2.
JRU 49 –– Medina 15, Dionisio 12, Dela Rosa 8, Miranda 4, Arenal 2, Amores 2, Sy 2, Celis 2, Guiab 1, Delos Santos 1, Tan 0, De Jesus 0, Villarin 0, Abaoag 0.
Quarterscores: 21-16, 38-31, 53-40, 74-49.
