Mapua grabs lead; Cortez sparks Lions’ victory
Mapua Cardinals and coach Randy Alcantara. | PHOTO: Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.internet
Mapua coach Randy Alcantara watched Lyceum launch a comeback and knew he had seen that earlier than.
“I watched Lyceum versus Arellano, that’s nearly precisely what they did immediately,” Alcantara mentioned on Saturday.
And Alcantara made certain the Cardinals knew what they have been as much as.
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“I informed them, ‘I already watched this,’” mentioned Alcantara, referring to Lyceum’s comeback win over Arellano final week. “I informed them, if we change into complacent, all our efforts within the first half can be wasted so it’s good that they stayed composed and we nonetheless executed the appropriate performs.”
Execution mattered for Mapua. However it additionally helped that the workforce had Clint Escamis round.
Escamis got here up enormous as Mapua edged Lyceum, 87-83, to seize the solo lead of the NCAA Season 99 males’s basketball event at FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Escamis completed with 20 factors, 9 boards, seven assists and 4 steals because the Cardinals claimed the highest spot with a 6-1 (win-loss) slate and leapfrogged the Pirates, who dropped to second at 6-2.
It was the Cardinals’ fourth straight win within the event.
In the meantime, San Beda did sufficient to outlive with out head coach Yuri Escueta, pulling off a 74-70 victory over gritty Jose Rizal College within the different recreation.The Crimson Lions clung to 3rd and fourth spots within the standings after Jacob Cortez hit a go-ahead basket with 53 seconds left that sealed San Beda’s fourth win in six outings.
Cortez completed with a game-high 24 factors to assist San Beda keep tied with Emilio Aguinaldo School.
Escueta served a one-game suspension after he was ejected in a 67-62 loss to Lyceum every week in the past. In his place, the younger Andre Santos took cost of the squad.
“I’m grateful that the boys responded to me,” mentioned the 22-year-old Santos, who was even youthful than a few of their energetic gamers.
Cortez and Lions captain Peter Alfaro mixed for 15 factors within the closing interval to thwart each try of Jose Rizal to show the sport round.
Marwin Dionisio even pushed the Lions behind when he scored to provide the Bombers a 70-69 lead.
However Cortez stepped up within the stretch to ship Jose Rizal tumbling to a 4-3 (win-loss) slate. INQ
