Rookie Lawrence Mangubat presided as Mapua University survived a close one against Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-66, to enter the win column of the NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The first-year guard out of Mapua high school buried five three-pointers en route to a 15-point outing alongside three rebounds, and one steal to help the Cardinals, who were reeling from an opening day loss to Benilde last Saturday, improve to 1-1 while the Generals fell to a similar 1-1 card.
A Mangubat triple sent Mapua to a 59-53 lead, before the Generals mounted a late comeback after trimming the deficit to just four, 62-66, after Axel Doromal fired a corner three-pointer in the final 2:50.
But another rookie in Chris Hubilla manufactured three straight free throws before he got fouled out with 56 seconds left, giving Mapua a slim 69-64 cushion.
EAC tried to rally anew with Harvey Pagsanjan and Wilmar Oftana splitting their freebies, but it was not enough to force an overtime as King Gurtiza both of his last two attempts.
JC Recto, who was ejected early in the fourth quarter due to a disqualifying foul, tallied 12 points while Hubilla flirted with a double-double of nine markers and 10 boards.
"Of course, credit doon sa mga players na talagang hindi nag-give up and kita naman na na-out si JC and foul trouble si Hubilla and sinabayan lang namin 'yung lineup niya na malilit," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said.
"Masaya and very proud kasi 10 rookies kam eh."
EAC, meanwhile, leaned on Harvey Pagsanjan who dropped 14 points and seven rebounds while Gurtiza tallied eight markers, teo boards, two dimes, and two steals.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
