Mapua University showcased its determination on Friday afternoon, overcoming a comeback attempt from the also-ran Arellano University and triumphing over the Chiefs with an 84-75 victory in the second round of the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.
Despite holding a lead of up to 15 points, the Cardinals had to weather a second-half comeback from the Chiefs, fueled by their opponents’ fiery hot shooting that brought them back into the game.
The Cardinals’ offense was firing on all cylinders from the start, thanks in part to their starting shooting guard Marc Cuenco, who scored 12 quick points in the first half with a shooting accuracy of 66.7%.
Cuenco’s offensive burst provided the Cardinals with the momentum to establish an 11-point lead heading into halftime, 51-40. However, in the second half, the Chiefs fought back with intense energy, limiting Mapua to just 11 points in the third quarter and giving themselves a fighting chance entering the final frame.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead (79-64) with 3:36 left in the game, Mapua faced a resilient Arellano team that refused to give up. The Chiefs’ veteran sharpshooter, Jade Talampas, caught fire, knocking down three consecutive triples in a personal 9-0 run to make it a two-possession ball game, 79-73, with 2:24 on the clock.
Despite Talampas’ impressive performance, the Cardinals doubled down on the defensive end, preventing Arellano from making a single field goal for the rest of the game, securing the 84-75 victory.
Head coach Randy Alcantara emphasized that he ensured his squad was prepared for Arellano’s late comeback attempt, emphasizing the need to respect Arellano’s fighting spirit regardless of its win-loss record.
“Expect na namin na ganoon laro ng Arellano. Sabi ko nga sa pregame respect AU,di tayo titingin kung top middle or bottom yan sa standing, pero same approach sa game which is to be aggressive sa defense. Nakita ko maganda yung third quarter nila eh, doon sila nakahabol. They gave us only 11 points so nakita natin na very aggressive talaga. Siyempre kailangan composure eh, sa ganoong laban. Hindi kami puwede magkumpiyansa at hindi kami tumingin sa standing basta yung preparation nandoon every game,” explained Alcantara.
Cuenco finished the game with 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists, continuing his strong start. Clint Escamis contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Paolo Hernandez and JC Recto added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Mapua’s next challenge is against Jose Rizal University, concluding its run in the elimination rounds on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
Lorenz Capulong posed a challenge for the Cardinals inside the paint, finishing with 22 points and 12 boards, while Jade Talampas chipped in with 14 points.
Arellano, with a 2-14 record, fell short in their comeback attempt. The Chiefs will face Lyceum of the Philippines University next on Sunday at 12:00 noon, also at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
The Scores:
Mapua 84- Cuenco 17, Escamis 15, Hernandez 13, Recto 10, Soriano 9, Rosillo 7, Fornis 6, Dalisay 5, Bonifacio 2
Arellano 75- Capulong 22, Talampas 14, Camay 8, Mallari 7, Geronimo 6, Sunga 6, Villarente 4, Ongotan 4, Rosalin 2, Dayrit 2, Tan 0, Yanes 0, Dela Cruz 0, Abastillas 0
Quarterscores: 25-20, 51-40, 62-56, 84-75
