Mapua University is currently among the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament league leaders midway through the first round.
In their five games thus far, the Cardinals have defeated San Sebastian College-Recoletos, San Beda University, College of Saint Benilde, and Emilio Aguinaldo College, with their only loss coming against Jose Rizal University.
During their back-to-back wins last week over the Blazers and the Generals, one man’s heroics served as the key to the Intramuros-based squad’s rise to the top of the standings. That man is none other than Mapua’s homegrown forward, Paolo Hernandez.
Hernandez’s stellar play earned him the season’s second Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week honors for the period from October 3 to 9, following in the footsteps of Shawn Umali from Lyceum of the Philippines University.
He outshone teammates Clint Escamis, Lyceum’s Mclaude Guadana and John Barba, and JRU’s Agem Miranda to claim the weekly award presented by San Miguel Corporation, with support from minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
The 6-foot-3 wingman, who contributed 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over those two victories, sank game-winning jumpers in the final periods of both games, enabling Mapua to secure a tie for the second spot with the Heavy Bombers at 4-1.
When facing Benilde on October 4, Hernandez nailed the decisive jumper with just 22 seconds left in the match before sealing the victory with three successful free throws.
He replicated this feat on Sunday when he executed a step-back midrange jumper to break a 69-all deadlock against EAC while also making a critical deflection on the defensive end to secure the win.
Despite these achievements, Hernandez humbly redirected all credit, attributing their success to the team’s collective effort and hard work.
“We just stayed composed lang, and nagtiwala kami sa mga coaches, sa mga teammates. May tiwala kami sa isa’t isa,” he said.
“Yung shots ko na ‘yun, dahil ‘yun sa teammates ko. Sa assist ni Clint, sa box out ng mga big man, especially Jopet Soriano. Lahat ‘yon, yung shots na ‘yon, kami yung tumira no’n.”
Nevertheless, Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara expressed his admiration for Hernandez, emphasizing that his reliable forward truly deserves the accolades, particularly due to Hernandez’s on-court intelligence.
“Kaya siya yung pinuntahan ko kasi tiwala ako sa kanya eh. Alam ko, may desisyon siyang maganda nung huli. Pwede niyang itira, pwede niyang ipasa,” the long-time Mapua mentor said.
“Maraming salamat sa Panginoon na nabigay kay Paolo yung time na ‘yun at hindi siya nag-miss.”
