Mapua University cruised to their third straight win and fifth overall behind a gutsy 77-71 win against Colegio de San Juan de Letran to claim the solo second spot in the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tilt with a 5-1 card.
Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said they didn't count the Knights out despite the latter's winless slate prior to the game. After all, Letran is the reigning three-time defending champion.
"Unang sabi ko sa huddle na 'wag kami tumingin sa standings, 0-5 ang Letran before this game. Experience-wise lamang sila and sabi ko nga defending champion pa rin sila," Alcantara said.
"Given na 'yung mga scorers nila na si (Deo) Cuajao at (Kurt) Reyson pero ang good thing ay hindi na-involve 'yung ibang mga players."
(The first thing I said in the huddle was not to look at the standings because Letran was 0-5 before this game. They have more experience and they are still defending champions. Given their scorers are Deo Cuajao and Kurt Reyson, it was a good thing that other players were not that involved.)
It has been a while since Mapua last won over Letran.
The last time the Cardinals beat their Intramuros neighbor was back in September 2019, when they pulled off a 105-101 double overtime victory against the Knights during the second round of Season 95. Since then, Letran had always come out victorious against Mapua.
The Knights beat the Cardinals thrice in Season 97, two of which were during their finals meeting, before they swept Mapua in their two games in Season 98.
Alcantara lauded the effort and hustle of his wards that led to their first victory against Letran after four years.
"Tinalo namin sila nung Season 95, second round. Sabi ko nga sa players, hindi tayo mananalo niyan kung hindi tayo magtatrabaho," Alcantara added.
"Nando'n 'yung effort nila at 'yung hustle at 'yung pagiging solid sa loob ng court. 'Yun lang naman 'yung key diyan e."
(We defeated them in Season 95, second round. I told the players, we could not win if we would not work. The effort and hustle in the court were there, including being solid. Those are the keys.)
Leading that hustle were rookie Clint Escamis and sophomore guard Marc Cuenco.
Escamis continued his stellar outing as he stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, seven rebounds, eight steals, and five assists while Cuenco had 20 markers as well, laced with 10 boards, one dime, one steal, and one block.
With the two leading the way, Alcantara was glad that his team didn't back down against a hungry Letran side.
"Sabi ko hindi magpapatalo nang basta 'yan," the veteran tactician added.
"Medyo marami kaming lapses nung third quarter na 'yun. Ang maganda lang, nakabalik kami doon sa fourth quarter."
(I told them they would not be defeated easily. We had a lot of lapses in that third quarter. The good thing is we were able to come back in the fourth quarter.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
