INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Elmer Espiritu sparked University of the East past Mapua Institute of Technology in overtime, 99-95, Monday in the 2nd Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Invitational Cup at The Arena in San Juan City.

Espiritu scored eight of his 29 points in the extra period, including six straight that gave the Warriors an 89-81 cushion in the final 2 minutes and 46 seconds of the game.

The Cardinals stormed back with an 8-4 rally behind Allan Mangahas and Ian Chris Mazo to trim the gap to 87-93 in the final 1:31, but Espiritu stopped the uprising with his last basket with 1:09, 95-87.

The Warriors climbed to 3-0 in Group A, while the Cardinals slid to 3-3 in Group B.

Far Eastern University, meanwhile, disposed of National University, 69-54, to clinch its fourth straight win and assume the solo lead in Group B.

Benedict Fernandez scored 12 points, Andy Mark Barroca had 11 and seven assists, and Jens Dieter Knuttel added seven for the Tamaraws, who built several 20-point leads, the last at 67-47 in the final 5:15.

The Bulldogs fell to 1-3 in Group A.

Mazo, who finished with a game-high 34 points for Mapua, also scored eight points in overtime, but his last five points, including a triple, came when the Warriors had already secured the victory.

Regulation ended at 80-all.

The scores:

First Game

UE 99—Espiritu 29, Llagas 26, Thiele Lingganay 7, Tagarda 7, Zamar 6, Martinez 5, Bandaying 4, Acuna 2, Etrone 2, Alabanza 1.
MAPUA 95—Mazo 34, Mangahas 12, Banal 11, N. Pascual 11, Cornejo 10, J. Pascual 2, Acosta 2, Dela Pena 2, Soriano 2.
Quarters: 20-21; 48-43; 67-59; 80-80 (regulation); 99-95.

Second Game

FEU 69—Fernandez 12, Barroca 11, Cawaling 11, Ramos 8, Cervantes 8, Knuttel 7, Macazo 5, Adolfo 4, Noundo 3, Alisbo 2, Kave 2.
NU 54—Aguilar 12, Galapon 9, Ponferada 8, Jahnke 7, Luy 6, Baloran 5, Catamora 4, Dela Cruz 2, Garcia 1
Quarters: 18-15, 39-22, 58-38, 69-54