The Mapuà Institute of Technology Cardinals, without their scoring and rebounding leader Allwell Oraeme, escaped the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 70-67, to remain unscathed in Season 92 of the NCAA.
The Cardinals missed the services of reigning MVP Oraeme, who has averaged 21 points and 21 rebounds per game.
“I guess you need games like this, where you just gotta drag it out and find ways. So it was a good experience for the team, especially this early in the season,” said King Cardinal Carlos Isit.
MIT led by as many as ten points early in the second quarter, 26-16, after a long jumper by Darrel Menina, when the Generals unleashed a 10-0 run capped by a long two-pointer by Igee King to tie the game at 26-26 with less than five minutes before halftime.
The teams then exchanged blows, highlighted by Mapuà’s fine transition plays and EAC’s 12 free throws. Hamadou Laminou’s put-back lay-in, with time running out in the second frame, lifted the Generals by a point, 37-36.
The third quarter was the tightest, seeing six of the total 12 lead changes. Batangueño rookie Almel Orquina waxed hot, capping the frame with a three-pointer with less than 30 seconds left to create separation for the Cardinals coming into the fourth, 56-53.
The 20-year-old rookie also grabbed five rebounds and dished an assist for MIT, while their team captain tallied 12 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
For the Generals on the other hand, Laminou led with 13 points and 17 rebounds. Sidney Onwubere also had a good outing with 13 points, as well as eight rebounds and three assists.
Late in the final quarter, EAC consistently went to their bigs, acknowledging the absence of Oraeme, but Mapuà took care of the lead, 65-59, via back-to-back mid-range shots from Justin Serrano and Andrew Estrella from the same spot with less than four minutes left in the game.
Then, with 40 seconds left in the game, consecutive pick-and-roll plays by Onwubere to Laminou brought EAC to within one, 67-68, and forced Coach Atoy Co to call a timeout.
However, an untimely bad pass by Munsayac to Serrano in the corner with seven seconds to go, and a missed three pointer, sealed the win for the Cardinals.
“It was definitely closer than I had expected, but we gotta give our hats off to them for giving us a good fight,” closed Isit.
The still-undefeated Cardinals (4-0) will next face the Arellano University Chiefs on Wednesday, while the EAC Generals (1-3) will try to bounce back versus the JRU Bombers on Thursday. Both games will be played at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores:
MIT (70) – Orquina 13, Isit 12, Estrella 12, Eriobu 9, Bunag 6, Biteng 6, Victoria 6, Menina 4, Serrano 2, Raflores 0, Mabgoo 0
EAC (67) – Laminou 13, Onwubere 13, Morada 12, Munsayac 11, Diego 8, King 7, Pascua 2, General 1, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Serrano 0, Estacio 0
Quarterscores: 19-10, 36-37, 56-53, 70-67.
