Mapua University found the needed finishing kick to get one over San Beda University with a tight 58-55 triumph in the NCAA Season 100 on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Cardinals relied on a strong closing run to finally solve the riddle that is the Red Lions, improving to 10-3 while the Red Lions slipped to 8-5.
"Sabi ko nga, every win and every loss kailangan may natututunan kami so 'yung pagkatalo namin sa first round, ilang film sessions ang ginawa namin," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara said.
"San Beda 'yan so alam nating magiging maganda 'yung laban, close lagi. Maganda lang sa mga players ay 'yung hustle nga."
Mapua was on the verge of another meltdown after wasting an early 14-point lead early in the third period as San Beda buckled down to business in the fourth, taking advantage of foul-plagued Cardinals.
Bryan Sajonia fueled an 11-3 run to open the fourth after shooting a pair of free throws and sinking a layup that gave the defending champions a 51-49 lead with 3:26 to go.
But knowing there was no Bismarck Lina in the paint after the transferee big man was called for a disqualifying foul late in the third, the Cardinals maximized and secured two crucial offensive rebounds that led to a corner triple for Yam Concepcion, 55-51.
JC Recto then came up with another layup to stretch their lead to six at 57-51, but the Red Lions answered with four straight points capped by two freebies from Sajonia.
Cuenco, whose clutch triples lifted them in the fourth, split his charities to ice the game.
Chris Hubilla once again starred for Mapua with a near double-double of 17 points all in the first half alongside nine rebounds and two assists while Cuenco finished with 11 markers, five boards, and three dimes.
Escamis, who was scoreless in the first half, chipped in seven points, two assists, two steals, and one rebound.
Sajonia paced San Beda with 12 points as Yukien Andrada was clamped with only nine markers on a rare 3-of-7 shooting percentage.
Scores:
Mapua 58 – Hubilla 17, Cuenco 11, Escamis 7, Abdulla 5, Recto 4, Mangubat 4, Jabonete 4, Concepcion 3, Igliane 3, Bancale 0, Fermin 0.
San Beda 55 – Sajonia 12, Puno 11, Andrada 9, Estacio 6, Songcuya 6, Lina 6, Payosing 3, Tagle 2, Royo 0, Calimag 0, Bonzalida 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 32-23, 46-40, 58-55.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
