Mapua University picked up where it left off last season, extending its mastery on San Beda University with a 66-55 triumph to close out opening day of the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball tournament, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
It was a dominant outing for last season’s runners-up as they limited the Red Lions to just a 35-percent shooting clip — including a horrid 6-of-27 shooting from rainbow country — while forcing them to commit 23 turnovers.
Moreover, this was San Beda’s first opening day loss in 17 years. The last time the Red Lions lost in the season opener was back on June 25, 2005 — a 68-50 defeat at the hands of Philippine Christian University.
“Thank you don sa mga players ko na sumunod at nakuha namin yung gameplan namin. Pero, siyempre, it’s a collective effort,” said Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara.
Already holding a 31-23 halftime lead, the Cardinals pushed the pedal with a 23-point third quarter output.
Arvin Gamboa was able to extend the lead to as high as 19 points, 65-46, with 4:23 left in the game.
Gamboa scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, with three rebounds and two assists. Brian Lacap produced 11 points, four boards, and an assist, while Joaqui Garcia added 10 points, two assists, and a steal.
“Tinignan ko nga yung scores, it’s a balanced scoring. So talagang hindi lang naman yun… Yung pinaka ano namin is ma-stop talaga yung scorers ng [San Beda],” added Alcantara.
James Canlas was the sole double-digit scorer for San Beda with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. JB Bahio got nine points and eight rebounds but shot only made three of his nine attempts.
Team captain Ralph Penuela also struggled in the game, putting up just eight points on eight attempts.
Mapua will next face Lyceum of the Philippines University on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m at the Filoil Ecooil Centre. San Beda, on the other hand, takes on Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. at the same venue.
The Scores:
Mapua 66 — A. Gamboa 12, Lacap 11, Garcia 10, Salenga 7, Hernandez 6, Bonifacio 6, Nocum 4, Soriano 2, Pido 2, Agustin 2, G. Gamboa 2, Mercado 2, Cuenco 0.
San Beda 55 –– Kwekuteye 15, Bahio 9, Penuela 8, Sanchez 6, Visser 6, Cortez 5, Cuntapay 4, Jopia 2, Alfaro 0, Andrada 0, Ynot 0, Cometa 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 31-23, 54-37, 66-55.
