Key losses: Arvin Gamboa, Rence Nocum, JJ Pido
Key holdovers: Warren Bonifacio, Paolo Hernandez, Toby Agustin
Season 98 record: 7-11 (8th)
It took a loaded Mapua University nine games last season to punch its breakthrough win before gaining a late momentum to win six of its last nine matches.
However, it was too little, too late for the Cardinals as their early woes haunted them in the end to bow out of Final Four contention following a finals appearance the season before.
Lucky for the Intramuros crew, they will open a new campaign in NCAA Season 99 with old faces led by veteran Warren Bonifacio alongside other holdovers Paolo Hernandez and Toby Agustin.
Bonifacio paced the squad in points and rebounds last season, churning out 10.83 markers and 7.83 boards together with 1.44 assists, 0.61 blocks, and 0.33 steals while Hernandez and Agustin starred with 9.67 and 5.06 points apiece.
Mapua will also welcome back high school product Clint Escamis, who decided to return to the Cardinals after spending one season with University of the East in the UAAP. Escamis is tipped to fill the void left by Rence Nocum, who has been drafted by Rain or Shine in the PBA.
Along with Nocum, Arvin Gamboa, JJ Pido, and Brian Lacap have also left the team.
Marc Cuenco, Andrei Igliane, and Jopet Soriano were the other holdovers from last season while completing the 15-man roster are Jeco Bancale, John Kobe Dalisay, Resto Fornis, Paolo Morenos, John Recto, Peter Rosillom and Kem Sabsalon.
NCAA Season 99 opens on September 24. Watch the games live on GTV.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
