Mapua’s unheralded backcourt duo of Julius Nieles and Darrel Menina came up big down the stretch as the Cardinals stunned the Letran Knights, 82-77, Tuesday to stay in the thick of the Final Four race in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The 5-foot-6 Nieles finished with a career-best 16 points, including seven in the final period, joining forces with the 5-foot-7 Menina in holding off a late, desperate Letran charge for the Cardinals’ first win over the Knights in five years.
Nigerian center Allwell Oraeme grabbed a league-high 30 rebounds that went with 18 points for the Cardinals, who improved to 9-5 win-loss card despite the absence of suspended coach Atoy Co.
The Knights dropped to 11-3, just half a game ahead of the San Beda Red Lions who are at second spot with a 10-3 slate.
“We just made the most out of our chance to play,” said Nieles who played 29 minutes in the absence of injured guards CJ Isit and Andretti Stevens.
Earlier, Jose Rizal kept its Final Four hopes alive with a narrow 73-69 victory over St. Benilde to move to 8-6.
The Blazers dropped to 3-11.
The scores:
First Game
JRU 73—Teodoro 17, Pontejos 13, Poutouochi 13, Balagtas 10, Grospe 10, Sanchez 4, Abdulwahab 3, Estrella 2, Dela Paz 1, Lasquety 0, Cruz 0, Dela Virgen 0.
ST. BENILDE 69—Grey 34, Ongteco 10, JJ Domingo 9, Deles 7, Jonson 3, Nayve 3, Fajarito 3, JS Domingo 0, Castor 0, Saavedra 0, Young 0, San Juan 0.
Quarters: 12-12, 35-32, 57-52, 73-69
Second Game
MAPUA 82—Oraeme 18, Nieles 16, Serrano 14, Menina 12, Que 6, Nimes 5, Aguirre 4, Braña 4, Biteng 3, Raflores 0.
LETRAN 77—Cruz 17, Racal 16, Nambatac 15, Sollano 12, Apreku 6, Balanza 5, Quinto 4, Luib 2, Bernabe 0, Gedaria 0.
Quarters: 16-25, 42-36, 62-49, 82-77