Mapua University may have pulled off a huge upset over erstwhile undefeated San Beda University, but the wards of head coach Randy Alcantara isn't about to settle for just that.
Alcantara, whose team clobbered the Red Lions on Saturday in a 68-54 victory, said their focus remains on finishing the elimination round strong as they still have to play Lyceum of the Philippines University on Wednesday.
"Sa totoo lang, hindi muna namin 'yun iniisip. Magre-ready pa rin kami sa Lyceum kasi mababalewala itong panalo namin dito kung tatalunin kami ng Lyceum," said Alcantara.
Mapua, at 6-3, still has a shot at finishing the elimination round with the #2 seed, though San Beda (6-1) still holds the place with two tough assignments coming up.
The top two teams will advance to the Final Four outright while teams ranked third through sixth will participate in the play-in games.
"Sana makalusot kami sa Lyceum at hindi naman namin maco-control 'yung sunod na laban ng San Beda sa Benilde at Letran eh. Lahat naman 'yan malalakas so yung preparation namin ay mas lalo naming higpitan or dagdagan kasi papunta na tayo doon sa finish line."
Against San Beda, Mapua was simply the better team.
The Cardinals dominated the Mendiola-based squad in almost all aspects of the game, shooting better from the field and getting to the line more times, 20 to just five for the Red Lions. They also dished out 12 assists, double the number of San Beda's total.
On defense, they tallied six steals and six blocks, both higher than their opponents', and never gave up more than 14 points in any single quarter.
San Beda, though, outrebounded Mapua after grabbing 43 boards against the Cardinals' 38.
"Number one, 'yung defense namin. Lahat naman yan magde-deliver para sa San Beda so ni-ready lang namin yung mga players namin para kung ano man na sitwasyon yung mangyari, ready kami," Alcantara said.
"Sabi ko nga, lahat na ng pwede naming ituro sa mga players, gawin na namin. So swerte naman na nakaalagwa kami nung second half."
—JMB, GMA News