Playing their third game this week, Mapua University is tipped to shrug off fatigue when it locks horns with the inspired Jose Rizal University on Sunday in the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament.
The Cardinals (4-2), who were coming off split results against Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Sebastian College-Recoletos last Tuesday and Friday, will take on the Heavy Bombers at 12 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre with both teams looking to bag back-to-back wins.
The 2:30 p.m. collision between LPU (3-3) and Emilio Aguinaldo College (2-4) will then follow suit as both squads look to regain their winning ways.
"Kung ano 'yung ano namin every game, kung anumang team, kailangan ready kami," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said.
"Talagang balanced 'tong lineup ng NCAA this season so wala kaming room para mag-relax. Basta kailangan pukpok pa rin."
Mapua is riding on the momentum from their 91-72 triumph against the Stags, where the backcourt tandem of Cyrus Cuenco and reigning MVP Clint Escamis made the struggling San Sebastian pay.
Cuenco erupted for a career-high 26 points to go with three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while Escamis detonated for 25 markers, four boards, four dimes, and two swats as the Cardinals cruised to their fourth win in six games.
Against the Heavy Bombers, Alcantara is expecting the same level of intensity from his wards as they eye to force a two-way tie at second spot with Letran (5-2).
"Kailangan 'di kami mapagod. Kung meron man, 'yung best namin, kung anuman 'yung gagawin ng pinalitan niya, dapat same effort, same energy. 'Yung lineup namin kailangan ganun ang mentalidad," Alcantara added.
JRU, for its part, will bank on its depth as the Heavy Bombers are now second in the league in terms of bench points.
"Nakukuha natin 'yung flow ng offense natin pero hindi tayo makakuha ng flow ng game natin. It's been a roller coaster ride for us," JRU head coach Louie Gonzalez said.
"We have to be competitive as always. Hindi pwede na 'pag nagpalit ako ng combination ay bababa 'yung performance namin. Kailangan ready sila."
In the second game, LPU and EAC will slug it out in bid to return to the win column.
The Pirates are fresh off an humbling 103-78 loss to Benilde last Friday that halted their impressive three-game winning streak powered by veteran forward John Barba, who exploded for a career-high 28 points against JRU before dropping 25-point showings against Arellano and Mapua.
The Generals, meanwhile, are currently on a two-game skid after losing back-to-back outings against Perpetual and Letran, which came after a statement 68-55 stunner against defending champion San Beda University.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
