By: Rom Anzures
Mapua University locked down University of Perpetual Help System DALTA when it mattered most, taking a to be one of the two remaining squads in the NCAA Season 98 Juniors Basketball Tournament with unblemished slates, Monday at Emilio Aguinaldo College Gymnasium.
Down by a solitary point to start the final frame, the Red Robins were powered Nygel Gonzales, who scored six straight points to reclaim the lead. Their solid defense also limited the Junior Altas to only scoring six points in the entire payoff period.
“Credit sa mga players dahil talagang yung desire nila to play defense nandun,” said Mapua head coach Yong Garcia on their defense in the fourth.
Lance Masiglat top-scored for the Red Robins, finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Joaquin Coronel contributed 14 markers of his own.
Jan Pagulayan led the Junior Altas with 18 points and four rebounds, followed by Amiel Acido’s 15 markers, eight boards, five dimes, a steal, and a block.
The other unbeaten squad in the league is Colegio de San Juan de Letran, who routed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 116-82.
The defense of the Squires forced the Brigadiers into committing 36 turnovers (21 in the first half), allowing them to be up by as many as 36 at one point in the game 116-80, and head coach Allen Ricardo was all praise for the boys from Muralla.
“We always emphasize three things sa mga bata — attitude, body language, and decision making. Yung tatlong bagay na ‘yon, hindi pwedeng mawawala every practice and every game eh. Isa yun sa pinanghahawakan namin palagi kaya siguro they performed well,” said Ricardo.
Andy Gemao continued his stellar play after finishing with 26 points and eight rebounds in only 14:42 minutes of play. George Diamante also was solid for Letran, putting up 16 markers, and nine boards.
Lance Dungo and Kieth Esusan put up 15 and 13 respectively on their home court but it wasn’t enough for them to give EAC its first win.
Meanwhile, San Beda – Taytay bounced back from its crushing loss against Letran, overcoming pesky San Sebastian College-Recolletos, 93-81.
Up by nine, 90-81, towards the last minute of the game, the Red Cubs found their way as they held off any run that was made by the Staglets, highlighted by a Nicko Lorenzo trey that pushed back the lead to its biggest at 12. He finished with 21 points and five rebounds.
“Baste is a really good team. So we were expecting that. Ang gusto kong makita is how our boys will bounce back. Nakita naman namin, parang sa boxing, pag tinamaan, bumabangon din agad,” said Coach Miko Roldan on how his boys responded to SSC-R’s mini runs throughout the second half.
Andrei Dungo also delivered a great all-around performance with 19 markers, 16 boards, and four dimes. Christopher Hubilla chipped in his own double-double of 15 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
Five different players finished in double digits from San Sebastian, headed by Mark Danag with 16 and Stephen Jardinico with 15, but it wasn’t enough to get the dub. Rodge Balbao, Rion Porcadas, and Ernerst Geronimo contributed 13, 12, and 11 on their own.
The Scores:
First Game
Letran (116) — Gemao 26, Diamante 16, Padilla 13, Reyes 12, Datumalim 9, Silorio 7, Moreno 6, Navarro 6, Anabo 5, Cruz 5, Alforque 3, Baliling 3, Hugo 3, Manalili 2, Paguio 0.
EAC (82) — Dungo 15, Esusan 13, Villanueva 10, Dispo 8, Bautista 7, Mariquit 6, Falsado 6, Bonafe 6, Brazil 5, Bailon 2, Tecson 2, Castillo 1, Cuizon 1, Romero 0, Tenorio 0.
Quarterscores: 22-15, 54-28, 80-58, 116-82
Second Game
San Beda (93) — Lorenzo 21, Dungo 19, Lopez 16, Hubilla 15, Lecciones 7, Reyes 7, Wagan 4, Cañete 2, Sollano 2, Jomalesa 0, Ronquillo 0.
SSC-R (81) — Danag 16, Jardinico 15, Balbao 13, Pordacas 12, Geronimo 11, Parba 5, Datario 3, Bularin 2, De Leon 2, Reyes 2, Hernandez 0, Rojas 0.
Quarterscores: 25-16, 45-44, 65-63, 93-81
Third Game
Mapua (75) — Masiglat 17, Coronel 14, Mulingtapang 9, Gonzales 8, Rodriguez 8, Valiña 6, Salvador 5, Go 4, Dayrit 2, Morenos 2, Agemenyi 0, Santos 0.
Perpetual (66) — Pagulayan 18, Acido 15, Vergara 12, Daep 6, Montemayor 5, Mascariñas 4, Baldoria 2, Ngo 2, Bernaldez 1, Montero 1, Callangan 0, De Ala 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 42-37, 59-60, 75-66
