Paolo Hernandez completed Mapua University’s fourth-quarter rally as his game-winning three-pointer launched the Cardinals over San Beda University 71-69 in the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
After going down by as much as 13 points in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals ended the final frame with a 17-2 run that concluded with Hernandez’s heroic three-ball – his only field goal in the game.
For head coach Randy Alcantara, Hernandez’s struggles before that final shot were far from enough to consider benching the shooter in clutch time.
After all, he trusted Hernandez to answer the call whenever it fell upon him.
“Talagang sabi ko nga nag-struggle at nag-turnover, kinakausap lang namin siya ng mga coaches, sabi namin time na niya iyon. Kung mashoot niya or hindi, basta kung ganoong crunch time, dapat talaga na sa loob siya. Na-shoot naman talaga at tiwala kami dahil every game niyang ineensayo,” explained Alcantara.
The Cardinals got out to a hot start as they outscored the Red Lions 18-4 in the first seven minutes of the first quarter.
Then San Beda fought back in the next two cantos to take control of the game.
By the fourth quarter, a three-pointer from San Beda’s star point guard Jacob Cortez gave the Cardinals their largest deficit of the game, 54-67 with 8:37 to go in the game.
For the rest of the match, though, Mapua had San Beda in a straightjacket. They completely stopped the Red Lions’ offensive sets while relentlessly attacking them on the other end, jumpstarting their 13-2 run.
Mapua soon took the lead 68-67 after a layup from their ever-trusty captain Warren Bonifacio with 4:02 left in the game. No team would score in the next three minutes until San Beda’s Jomel Puno penetrated the paint.
Puno got off a layup to take back the lead, 68-69 with 1:09 to go.
On the other end, a chaotic offensive possession from the Cardinals somehow resulted in Hernandez with the ball in his hands at the three-point line, wide open.
Despite not having a single field goal in the match, Mapua’s senior sharpshooter rose up for the three and hit nothing but net, sealing the lead and the win.
“Of course, masayang masaya, unang maraming salamat panginoon na nanalo kami sa larong ito, pero siyempre nandiyan na yung mga players para itong panalo na ito credit sa kanila,” said Alcantara.
“Siyempre hindi ganoon kadali kalaban San Beda, talagang kailangan hanggang tapos. Thankful talaga especially sa amin clutch man. Of course nandiyan siya lagi.”
Clint Escamis was once again phenomenal for the Cardinals, scoring 21 points in a fiery battle against another star guard on the opposing end in Cortez.
Marc Cuenco added 14 points with three triples, while Bonifacio ended with 11 of his own.
Hernandez scored just four points in the match, but he knocked down the biggest shot when it mattered most.
The Cardinals boosted their control of the top spot in the standings as they went up to a 12-3 record. They are set for a battle against the streaking University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Wednesday at 1:30 PM.
Jacob Cortez had a game-high 24 points and four rebounds, while Yukien Andrada added 15 points and eight boards. Jomel Puno chipped in with nine points, 14 boards, and four assists, but all their contributions ultimately fell short.
The Red Lions have now lost four of their last five games and have fallen to an 8-6 record, dropping out of the top four into fifth place in the standings. They are set to fight College of Saint Benilde on Wednesday at 3:30 PM.
The Scores:
Mapua 71- Escamis 21, Cuenco 14, Bonifacio 11, Rosillo 8, Asuncion 6, Hernandez 4, Soriano 4, Recto 3, Igliane 0, Morenos 0, Dalisay 0
San Beda 69- Cortez 24, Andrada 15, Puno 9, Tagle 7, Visser 4, Jopia 4, Cuntapay 3, Payosing 3, Royo 0, Gonzales 0, Gallego 0, Alfaro 0
Quarterscores: 19-17, 40-38, 54-64, 81-80
