Yam Concepcion and Clint Escamis took turns on the steering wheel as Mapua University got back on track with a 75-71 win over Jose Rizal University in their highly emotional tussle on Saturday in the NCAA Season 100.
The rookie-veteran tandem shone on both ends to help the Cardinals regain their winning ways, improving to 7-3 and bouncing back from a woeful 76-69 overtime loss to San Beda last Tuesday.
Concepcion was a revelation after the 22-year-old big man churned out a career-high 19-point outing alongside nine rebounds to step up for their depleted front court, which lost John Jabonete due to a disqualifying foul late in the second period.
Meanwhile, the reigning MVP showed up when it mattered most, dropping 10 of his 14 markers in the fourth quarter while also collecting four boards, seven assists, and one steal.
"[Ang instruction ko sa mga players] ay stay composed. Ito na siguro 'yung worst free throw [shooting] namin eh pero at least nakabalik kami sa hustle namin sa rebounds," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said.
"Itong game na 'to kay Yam 'to, grabe, talagang 'yung nine rebounds and 'yung hustle niya na 19 points, thank you kami sa buong effort na binigay niya ngayon ni Yam."
Mapua was in control almost the whole game, but the Cardinals struggled to pull away for good after multiple comeback attempts from the Heavy Bombers, who slipped to 3-7.
Escamis, who was held scoreless at the half, made up for it in the clutch after sinking a triple in the fourth and issuing a dime that led to a Lawrence Mangubat three-pointer as Mapua cruised to a 63-56 lead.
JRU, however, would answer with five straight points to pull to within two, but Chris Hubilla and Escamis fueled a quick 6-0 blitz for a 69-61 cushion in the final 3:23.
Both teams exchanged turnovers, which ended up with Escamis laying it in for a pivotal 73-69 advantage. But Joshua Guiab completed a quick layup off an MJ Raymundo pass to trim the deficit to two.
As things became intense in the final seconds, Escamis and Concepcion steadily sank a free throw each to put away JRU en route to the win.
Hubilla and Cyrus Cuenco also registered a double-digit outing with 13 and 11 points apiece with the former chiming in with seven rebounds to help the cause.
Guiab and Shawn Argente paced JRU with 16 points each with the big man also grabbing nine rebounds to flirt with a double-double showing.
Scores:
Mapua 75 – Concepcion 19, Escamis 14, Hubilla 13, Cuenco 11, Igliane 6, Jabonete 6, Mangubat 3, Agemenyi 3, Bancale 0, Abdulla 0, J. Garcia 0, Pantaleon 0, Fermin 0.
JRU 71 – Guiab 16, Argente 16, Lozano 8, Bernardo 8, Raymundo 5, Medina 5, De Jesus 4, Benitez 4, Ferrer 3, Panapanaan 2, Pangilinan 0, D. Garcia 0, De Leon 0, Samontanes 0.
Quarters: 27-20, 37-36, 54-50, 75-71.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
