Mapua University reclaimed the solo top spot in the NCAA Season 99 after gutting out a hard-fought 83-77 win against sliding Emilio Aguinaldo College on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Cardinals broke a tie with Lyceum of the Philippines University to improve to 11-3 while the Generals absorbed back-to-back losses to drop to 7-7.
Rookie JC Recto and veteran big man Warren Bonifacio shone for the Cardinals, helping them establish a 68-49 lead after opening the fourth with a quick 6-0 run.
Kyle Ochavo then pumped life back to the Generals by burying a triple and sinking two of three freebies to cut their deficit to just eight, 62-79, with 4:33 left in the game.
Ochavo would fire a long bomb anew followed by a three-point play by JP Maguliano after drawing a foul from Clint Escamis to further slice the gap to two, 73-75. But a Escamis redeemed himself with a long triple of his own to send Mapua up by six, 80-74, in the final 33.2 seconds.
Maguliano sank two charities but a split from the line from Jopet Soriano saw the Cardinals enjoying an 81-76 upper hand.
Escamis finished with 17 points on top of eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block while Recto dazzled with a double-double of 12 markers and 10 boards alongside two blocks. Bonifacio, who wasn't able to finish the game after hurting his ankle, finished with 14 points.
The loss spoiled a 29-point outburst from the graduating Maguliano to achieve another double-double in his career as he also churned out 10 rebounds laced with one dime and one steal.
Scores:
Mapua 83- Escamis 17, Bonifacio 14, Recto 12, Asuncion 9, Dalisay 8, Hernandez 6, Cuenco 5, Rosillo 5, Soriano 5, Igliane 2, Bancale 0.
EAC 77- Maguliano 29, Ochavo 15, Cosejo 14, Robin 9, Gurtiza 6, Tolentino 2, Angeles 2, Quinal 0, Luciano 0, Ednilag 0, Balowa 0, Loristo 0, Unpad 0, Cosa 0, Bacud 0.
Quarterscores: 27-16; 44-35; 62-49; 83-77.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
