Mapua University continued its impressive run in the first round of the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament, showcasing its mastery over Arellano University with a 79-65 victory on Wednesday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
The Cardinals extended their winning streak to four games, having previously defeated formidable opponents such as College of Saint Benilde (75-71), Colegio de San Juan de Letran (77-71), and Lyceum of the Philippines University (87-83) to claim the top spot in the standings.
Whatever the result of their game against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the Cardinals (7-1) will close the round on top by virtue of their win over San Beda.
Warren Bonifacio took the lead for the Cardinals, delivering a double-double performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Joining the ranks of strong contributors, Jc Recto and Kobe Dalisay also neared double-doubles with 12 points each, along with nine rebounds from Recto.
Despite having a quiet game on the scoring front, Clint Escamis showcased his versatility by contributing nine points, nine rebounds, five assists, and five steals. His well-rounded performance was crucial in sealing the victory.
“Lahat naman yan iniinvolve nila. Hindi lang porque kayo ang beterano o leader diyan yung points ang habol niyo, pero siyempre nakita naman natin din sila mismo ang naglead at nagpasahan. Kaya maganda siguro ang tinakbo kanina,” said Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara about Bonifacio and Escamis.
The game initially remained close in the first quarter, but Mapua pulled away with a 27-15 advantage in the second quarter, entering halftime with a 43-30 lead. The lead continued to grow, reaching as much as 25 points in the second half.
While Arellano had proven to be a resilient opponent in previous games, frequently challenging stronger teams, Mapua was cautious not to underestimate them.
“Yun nga kasi maraming games na yung Arellano na talagang, yung tendency talaga nila kaya nilang tambakan yung mga kalaban. Huwag kaming magpapabaya, lagi naming pinipilit na hindi puwede magrelax. Hindi puwede tingnan ang standing na yan kasi lahat puwedeng manalo sa mga lineup. Kailangan lang talaga namin ball movement assists, kaya una kong tiningnan sa stats 25 assists pala kami, kaya maganda siguro na tinapos namin sa third quarter,” Alcantara shared.
Lars Sunga’s 16 points and seven rebounds were instrumental in keeping the Chiefs competitive, with Danielle Mallari adding 10 points.
Nevertheless, Arellano currently finds itself at the bottom of the standings with a 1-7 record, just ahead of Letran, and aims to turn their fortunes around in their next game against Jose Rizal University on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
The Scores:
Mapua 79- Bonifacio 14, Recto 12, Dalisay 12, Escamis 9, Cuenco 8, Hernandez 6, Igliane 5, Rosillo 4, Bancale 3, Asuncion 3, Sabsalon 3, Fornis 0
Arellano 65- Sunga 16, Mallari 10, Talampas 8, Geronimo 7, Capulong 6, Valencia 5, Abastillas 5, Ongotan 2, Rosalin 2, Yanes 2, Tan 2, Dayrit 0, Villarente 0, dela Cruz 0, Lustina 0
Quarterscores: 16-15, 43-30, 65-45, 79-65
