Coming back from down 10 in the third quarter, Mapua University snatched a 72-71 victory against the previously unbeaten University of Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 99 Juniors’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Lawrence Mangubat propelled the Red Robins’ stellar comeback as the Cebuano scored 11 of his 25 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Jonalance Masiglat copped a double-double with 11 markers and 15 rebounds for Mapua.
For the Junior Altas, Aries Borja led his squad with 18 points and eight caroms.
With a two-point deficit with over a minute left in the contest, Masiglat came up clutch with a crucial three-point play to give the lead back to Mapua, 71-70.
Following a technical free-throw by Mangubat and split charities by Borja on the other end, Nico Mulingtapang had a chance at the line to extend their lead to three.
However, missing both his free throws, the Red Robins were fortunate enough to come out on top after a scramble for the ball denied Perpetual a chance to send the game into overtime.
Earlier in the day, Colegio San Juan de Letran came away with an 83-69 drubbing of Emilio Aguinaldo College.
With the result of the Mapua-Perpetual game, the three teams are now tied for first in the standings at 5-1 apiece.
Four Squires scored in double digits with Moses Manalili leading the way with 15 points and nine assists.
Meanwhile, Jolo Navarro followed closely with 14 points and nine rebounds.
EJ Castillo, on the other hand, scored a whopping 28 markers in the Brigadiers’ loss.
Meanwhile, Lyceum of the Philippines University pulled off a shocking victory over San Beda University, 77-68, to claim their first win of the season.
Kian Penrio led the Junior Pirates, despite coming off the bench, with 16 points off 62-percent shooting.
To round out the afternoon, San Sebastian College and La Salle Green Hills came away with close victories over Arellano University (102-100) and Jose Rizal University (75-70), respectively.
In Season 99’s first overtime game, it was surprisingly one-sided at opposing points of the game with the Golden Staglets leading by as much as 14 and the Braves by 10.
However, in a high-scoring overtime period, San Sebastian’s John Melano came up big with his lone two points in the game coming with 21 seconds remaining as he put up the Staglets by one, en route to their fourth victory.
Ruvic Danag led all scorers with a day-high 34 points while Ben Jimenez dropped 20 markers for San Sebastian.
To wrap up the afternoon, the Greenies nearly relinquished a 15-point advantage but managed to pull through in the end to win by five.
Guillian Quines showcased his consistency with 18 points and four rebounds for LSGH while Dale Ortega returned to form with 17 markers and seven caroms.
The Scores:
First Game
Letran 83 – Manalili 15, Navarro 14, Diamante 12, Baliling 11, Padilla 8, Reyes 7, Hugo 6, Gazzingan 4, Villanueva 3, De Leon 3, Cruz 0, Paguio 0, Alforque 0, Quijada 0
EAC 69 – Castillo 28, Coronel 10, Asay 8, Graham 7, Campana 4, Lumbo 4, Razo 4, Mariquit 2, Luna 1, Tecson 1, Bautista 0, Canonigo 0
Quarterscores: 27-13; 47-35; 65-55; 83-69
Second Game
Mapua 72 – Mangubat 25, Salvador 13, Masiglat 11, Valina 6, Duque 5, Mulingtapang 5, Rodriguez 3, Gragasin 2, Palistas 1, Malaga 1, Mananquil 0, Go 0
UPHSD 71 – Borja 18, Daep 15, Gojo Cruz 11, Valencia 6, Acido 6, Pagulayan 4, Ayon 4, Asuncion 3, Callangan 2, Baldoria 2
Quarterscores: 21-18; 33-36; 49-59; 72-71
Third Game
San Sebastian 102 – Danag 34, Jimenez 20, Penaverde 13, Porcadas 8, Marasigan 8, Herrera 8, Hadji Casan 3, Bonus 2, Bautista 2, Melano 2, Apostol 2, Jacob 0
Arellano 100 – Javier 20, Reguera 17, Mendoza 16, Yu 9, Novillo 9, Franco 7, Austria 6, Distrito 5, Montesclaros 4, Espinosa 3, Vergara 2, Pascual 2, Jimenez 0, Tanudtanod 0
Quarterscores: 28-16; 43-47; 61-65; 89-89; Overtime: 13-11
Fourth Game
LPU 77 – Panerio 16, Timbol 14, Matienzo 14, Mulligan 11, Sayaman 9, Parinas 5, Villa 3, Julio 3, Lobos 2, Melchor 0, Lingoste 0, Poli 0, Dajao 0
San Beda 68 – Dollente 22, Canete 12, Lorenzo 11, Vailoces 7, Batong Bakal 5, Medroso 3, Sollano 3, Mercado 3, San Juan 2, Wagan 0, Mondigo 0, Ugaddan 0
Quarterscores: 9-18; 35-35; 57-46; 77-68
Fifth Game
LSGH 75 – Quines 18, Ortega 17, Sharma 10, Ison 7, Osis 7, Natividad 6, Abad 5, Muyuela 3, Podador 2, Nonoy 0, Gomez 0, Hachuela 0, Peralta 0, Tud 0
JRU 70 – Marin 19, Pineda 13, Pinzon 9, Rivera 8, Satparam 8, Enal 7, Guarino 4, Abequibel 2, To 0, Natividad 0, Rico 0, Castillo 0, Ferrer 0, Almario 0
Quarterscores: 27-18; 43-41; 61-57; 75-70
