If there is one takeaway from watching all these stunning endings and ferocious performances in the NCAA’s centennial season, it is this: the Grand Old League’s championship trophy is anybody’s for the taking.
Letran got even with archrival San Beda. Mapúa stained Benilde’s ambitions to go unblemished in the second round. EAC is still in the hunt for their first-ever Final Four ticket in history. All that and more in this week’s edition of the NCAA Siglo Uno: Week in Review.
(G68) Mapúa vs LPU
Mapúa won, 69-68. A game nothing short of explosive, the Cardinals and the Pirates went on a wild shootout in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter spearheaded by Mapúa’s Lawrence Mangubat and LPU’s Renz Villegas.
Mangubat, a rookie sensation from Cebu, dropped 16 points, nothing more important than his go-ahead corner jumper followed by a game-winning triple to power Mapúa to a thrilling escape.
(G69) San Beda vs JRU
San Beda won, 83-70. James Payosing showed flashes of his Season 99 Finals MVP form after leading San Beda to their ninth win in #NCAA100 at the expense of the Heavy Bombers.
Collecting 18 points, six boards and three assists, the former FMVP snagged his first-ever best player honors of the season– a welcome sight for the reigning NCAA kings who are definitely out to prove that they can go back-to-back.
(G70) Letran vs EAC
EAC won, 68-58. Talk about a demolition job. Harvey Pagsanjan racked up 13 points, three boards, and five assists in what would be a stellar performance for the Generals against the ever-resilient Letran Knights.
It was a critical win for the history-seeking EAC as they overtook Letran and barged into the Final Four picture.
(G71) Perpetual vs DLS-CSB
DLS-CSB won, 61-56. Justine Sanchez boasted a 16-6-2 statline for Benilde as the Blazers cruised to their sixth win in a row, this time against the Perpetual Altas. The win is all but a done deal for the No. 1 team in #NCAA100 who led by as big as 20 points, but had to double their efforts in the final frame after the Altas went on a 22-10 scoring quarter run.
(G72) LPU vs San Sebastian
LPU won, 93-85. The Pirates sailed to their seventh victory in #NCAA100– a crucial one that helped keep their Final Four hopes alive.
Renz Villegas sizzled for 25 points, three assists, two steals and a rebound to lead LPU to a decisive win over San Sebastian.
(G73) JRU vs Arellano
Arellano won, 81-77. A career game by team captain Basti Valencia delivered the win for the Chiefs, pouring in 25 points, five rebounds, and three assists to help Arellano claim their sixth win in #NCAA100 and stay in the hunt for a Final Four ticket.
(G74) EAC vs San Beda
San Beda won, 89-59. The kings of the jungle went on a merciless rampage and scored a 30-point drubbing against the EAC Generals.
Emman Tagle top-scored for San Beda with 20 points with an efficient 5/10 shooting from long distance, while the entire team connived for an all-around offensive showing (45.7% field goal shooting) to obliterate the Generals.
(G75) Perpetual vs Mapúa
Mapúa won, 71-57. Hot-shooting Cyrus Cuenco proved once again why he’s one of the best shooters in Philippine collegiate basketball scene right now as he exploded for 21 points, going six of eight from beyond the arc in a masterful effort to lead league’s number two team Mapúa over Perpetual.
(G76) JRU vs LPU
LPU won, 82-80. John Barba is high-key consistent as a hooper just as he is lowkey as a person. The league’s second best scorer collected 20 points, three rebounds and two assists to win yet another BPG honors in #NCAA100.
(G77) DLS-CSB vs Letran
DLS-CSB won, 83-78. The top-seeded team in #NCAA100 used their size and speed to great use to come up with a resounding win against a tough Letran squad.
Justine Sanchez starred for the Blazers anew, tallying 16 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals to notch their 13th win of the season.
(G78) San Sebastian vs Perpetual
San Sebastian won, 83-72. Only playing for pride and glory after being booted out of playoff contention, TJ Felebrico stepped up big time for the Stags against the Perpetual Altas.
The second best rebounder in #NCAA100 scored 18 points, gathered seven rebounds, and dished out three assists in a winning effort for the Stags.
(G79) Arellano vs EAC
EAC won, 69-59. The Generals made sure to secure a crucial dub as with the elimination round nearing its conclusion. Harvey Pagsanjan (17 points, eight boards, three assists) and the Generals smelled blood and capitalized on their hunger for a Final Four slot, marching on to a 10-point win over the equally determined Arellano Chiefs.
(G80) Mapúa vs DLS-CSB
Mapúa won, 75-73. Where would Mapúa be without the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis?
The King Cardinal was a walking bucket all game long as he sizzled for 26 big points capped by a game-winning heave from the logo that got the entire Filoil EcoOil Centre to their feet.
Clint also grabbed four rebounds and dished five assists in an all-around performance en route to a statement win against a powerhouse Blazers squad.
(G81) San Beda vs Letran
Letran won, 74-71. As promising as a Letran-San Beda rivalry matchup is, every game between these equally storied institutions always finds a way to live up to the expectations and then some.
A hotly contested fight from start to finish, Jimboy Estrada drained the two most crucial baskets on his way to 24 total points to steer Letran over their archnemesis. The #NCAA100 rookie padded the stat sheet with five boards, nine dimes, and one block and steal apiece in an all-important game for the Knights.
TEAM STANDINGS
- 13-3 Benilde Blazers*
- 13-3 Mapúa Cardinals*
- 10-6 San Beda Red Lions
- 8-8 EAC Generals
- 8-8 LPU Pirates
- 8-9 Letran Knights
- 6-10 Arellano Chiefs
- 6-11 Perpetual Altas**
- 5-11 San Sebastian Stags**
- 4-12 JRU Heavy Bombers**
*Assured of a Final Four slot
**Out of Final Four contention
