Mapua University waxed hot from downtown in the fourth quarter to pull off a 75-65 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA Season 97 on Wednesday.
With the win, Mapua closed the elimination round at 7-2 behind a four-game winning streak and boosted its shot at finishing in the top two.
Lyceum, on the other hand, will finish at 2-7, which is out of the play-in picture.
Paolo Hernandez and Toby Agustin scored 13 apiece to pace streaking Mapua. Hernandez also dished out a team-high five assists and grabbed two steals while Agustin knocked down three triples.
Brian Lacap added 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Cardinals while Arvin Gamboa logged a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Mapua will now await the result of the game between archrivals San Beda University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Friday. A loss by the Red Lions will officially award the Cardinals a top two-seed, which comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
Down by two at the half, 34-32, Mapua leaned on Hernandez who fueled a 9-0 run to open the third quarter for a 41-34 lead. A triple from Renzo Navarro, though, brought Lyceum to within one, 46-45.
Mapua closed out the frame up by six, 53-47, with Joaquin Garcia, who was scoreless in the first half, knocking down a triple of his own to power a 9-0 blitz.
Two three-pointers again from Garcia highlighted Mapua's scorching 15-5 rampage to begin the payoff period for a 68-52 spread. That advantage widened to as big as 17, 71-54, after an Agustin bucket.
With nothing to lose, Lyceum left everything on the floor to inch closer, 63-73, but Mapua held on to complete the victory.
Ato Barba led the Pirates with 16 points while Omar Larupay tallied 15 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
The score:
Mapua 75 - Hernandez 13, Agustin 13, Lacap 12, Gamboa 10, Garcia 9, Nocum 6, Bonifacio 5, Asuncion 3, Pido 2, Mercado 2, Salenga 0.
Lyceum 65 - Barba 16, Larupay 15, Remulla 8, Cunanan 7, Navarro 6, Bravo 5, Guadana 4, Garro 3, Abadeza 1, Jabel 0, Valdez 0, Guinto 0.
Quarters: 15-17, 32-34, 53-47, 75-65.
—JMB, GMA News
