Wanting to end their season on a high note, the Mapua University Cardinals leaned on their steady backcourt, who bombarded the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals in the final frame to take a 80-67 win, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
“Yun yung sabi sa amin ni coach Randy [Alcantara], na tapusin namin yung season ng maganda para mataas morale namin next season,” said team captain Laurenz Victoria.
Besides ending their three-game losing skid, the Cardinals leapfrogged the Generals in the standings, going up to 5-11 — a full game ahead of EAC.
And it was former Red Robins Victoria and Noah Lugo who made sure to chalk this one up for Mapua.
Lugo heated up in the final frame, scoring 11 of his 18 points. Seeing him find the touch, Victoria followed suit, scoring eight of his 15 points during that span as well to help Mapua gain a 13-point lead late.
The output of the two was two points more than the entire Generals.
“Talagang pinagtrabahuan namin yung depensa namin. Nung mga nakaraang araw, yun talaga focus namin. Yung opensa darating naman e,” added Victoria as he and Lugo combined for 10 dimes and five steals as well.
Warren Bonifacio added 11 markers for the Cardinals.
Hamadou Laminou, who had 20 points entering the final quarter, was locked down in the fourth — scoring just one point. He grabbed 13 boards as well. JP Magullano had 15 markers and six rebounds.
Mapua will next face the San Sebastian Golden Stags on Friday, October 12. EAC, on the other hand, takes on the Perpetual Altas on Tuesday, October 9.
The Scores:
MU 80 –– Lugo 18, Victoria 15, Bonifacio 11, Biteng 8, Serrano 7, Aguirre 6, Pelayo 5, Gamboa 4, Bunag 4, Jabel 2, Salenga 0, Nieles 0.
EAC 67 –– Laminou 21, Magullano 15, Garcia 10, Bautista 6, Mendoza 6, Gonzales 4, Tampoc 3, Cadua 2, Corilla 0, Natividad 0, Neri 0, Bugarin 0.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 33-24, 52-50, 80-67.
