Cyrus Cuenco and Clint Escamis provided the answers the Mapua University was looking for in the second half, powering a win over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday.
The veteran duo combined for nine huge three-pointers as the Cardinals solidified their bid for a twice-to-beat bonus, improving to 12-3 behind a six-game winning streak.
The ALTAs, on the other hand, fell to 6-10 and are now in danger of bowing out of contention.
"Unang-una 'yung ace point guard nila wala eh so sinamantala namin. Gayunpaman, nakadikit sila and [lumayo] lang kami nu'ng third eh so malaki 'yung third namin," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said as Perpetual's main point guard Shawn Orgo was ruled out for the season due to shoulder injury.
"Pinaka-ano rito ay single digit lang si [Mark] Gojo Cruz kasi nu'ng first round, double digit 'yun eh at saka 'yung [Christian] Pagaran so at least, nadepensahan namin 'yung isang scorer."
Mapua didn't look like it was the second-seeded team in the first half, shooting a woeful 39.3 percent from the field as the ALTAs took a slim 30-29 lead at the break.
But the Cardinals turned to their veterans to pull away for good against the luckless Perpetual.
Cuenco ignited for two triples in the third period, with the second one sending Mapua to a 50-36 cushion as they ended the canto holding on to a 51-41 lead as the ALTAs continued to put up a fight.
In fact, Perpetual was still able to trim the deficit to a single digit, 53-46, after JP Boral converted a quick layup off a Gojo Cruz pass early in the payoff period.
But the Cardinals never allowed Perpetual to get any kind of momentum with Escamis and Cuenco conniving for back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc to push their lead back to 13 at 59-46.
Another Cuenco triple at the 1:40 mark ultimately took the fight out of the desperate Perpetual.
Cuenco dropped a team-high 21 points behind an efficient 6-of-8 shooting from the rainbow country to go along with two assists and one rebound while Escamis churned out 18 markers together with five dimes, three steals, and one board.
Boral top-scored with 14 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Pagaran added 13 markers, five boards, and one dime as the ALTAs suffered their second straight loss.
Scores:
Mapua 71 – Cuenco 21, Escamis 18, Hubilla 15, Concepcion 6, Mangubat 5, Abdulla 3, Bancale 2, Recto 1, Igliane 0, Jabonete 0, Ryan 0, Garcia 0.
Perpetual 57 – Boral 14, Pagaran 13, Abis 9, Gojo Cruz 6, Pizarro 6, Nuñez 2, Manuel 2, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 2, Movida 1, Sevilla 0, Thompson 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 29-30, 51-41, 71-57.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
