Lawrence Mangubat sinks the game-winning three as Mapua escapes Lyceum for an NCAA Final Four return, while undermanned champion San Beda breezes past lowly JRU
MANILA, Philippines – Mapua flirted with disaster but was nonetheless rewarded handsomely after edging skidding Lyceum in a 69-68 nail-biter after blowing a 16-point third-quarter lead to rebook a Final Four spot in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, October 29.
With their fifth straight win in the books coming off a go-ahead Lawrence Mangubat triple with 3.9 seconds left, the Cardinals rose to an 11-3 record, simultaneously granting themselves and idle top-ranked College of St. Benilde (11-2) a pair of playoff berths.
Mangubat put a bow on his heroic outing with a team-high 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from deep, plus 5 rebounds and 2 assists, while big man Chris Hubilla scored 14 in the cardiac affair. MVP Clint Escamis took a backseat with 10 points but still scattered 4 dimes, 3 boards, 1 steal, and 1 block in 32 minutes.
Renz Villegas topscored the valiant comeback effort with 22 points for Lyceum, which dropped its third straight game to now rest at a 6-8 slate behind fourth-running Letran (7-7) and fifth-place EAC (6-7), while also tying Perpetual at No. 6.
With injured star JM Bravo still out of commission due to a scary head injury, the Pirates found no solace in their other key cogs as the likes of Mac Guadana and John Barba only scored 5 apiece despite helping mount a huge rally from down 16, 35-51, in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the defending champions San Beda Red Lions cruised to a 9-5 record to stay comfortably in third place after routing the JRU Heavy Bombers, 83-70, off a telling 29-13 second-quarter burst despite missing top stars Bryan Sajonia and Bismarck Lina.
Reigning Finals MVP James Payosing was in the zone, leading the undermanned cause with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a stellar +24 in just 23 minutes, while star forward Jomel Puno churned out a 17-point, 12-board double-double.
Shawn Argente scored 16 on the other end as JRU flanked San Sebastian at the bottom of the standings with identical 4-10 cards with four games left to salvage the season.
The Scores
First Game
Mapua 69 – Mangubat 16, Hubilla 14, Cuenco 11, Escamis 10, Concepcion 6, Igliane 4, Recto 4, Jabonete 2, Ryan 2, Abdulla 0, Bancale 0, Garcia 0.
Lyceum 68 – Villegas 22, Montaño 9, Cunanan 8, Aviles 7, Daileg 7, Guadaña 5, Barba 5, Peñafiel 3, Versoza 2, Caduyac 0, Moralejo 0.
Quarters: 18-12, 28-25, 54-40, 69-68.
Second Game
San Beda 83 – Payosing 18, Puno 17, Tagle 9, Calimag 8, Royo 7, Estacio 5, Bonzalida 5, Andrada 5, Celzo 5, Songcuya 2, Culdora 2, Jalbuena 0.
JRU 70 – Argente 16, Guiab 13, Raymundo 9, Bernardo 8, Panapanaan 6, De Leon 4, Sarmiento 4, Barrera 4, Ramos 2, Medina 2, De Jesus 2, Mosqueda 0, Pangilinan 0, Lozano 0.
Quarters: 17-18, 46-31, 69-53, 83-70.
– Rappler.com
