Allwell Oraeme. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Allwell Oraeme wasn’t playing to boost his bid for the MVP plum. He just didn’t want the Mapua Cardinals’ season to end.
Mapua’s Nigerian import helped brought the hard-fighting Cardinals to the Final Four for the first time since 2010 after they booted out the Arellano Chiefs, 93-75, Tuesday in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball at Mall of Asia Arena.
In the other game, defending champion San Beda survived Letran’s late run, 83-78, and seized the No. 1 spot in the Final Four for the 10th consecutive season.
Ola Adeogun saved the Lions from the jaws of defeat with a pair of power moves in the paint after the Knights, spearheaded by Mark Cruz’s 29 points, forced the only deadlock at 78, with 35 seconds remaining.
Oraeme, the frontrunner in the individual statistical race, terrorized the Chiefs with 13 points, 28 rebounds, six assists and three blocks—his 17th double-double output of the season that bolstered his MVP bid.
“I was really scared coming into the game,” said the mobile 6-foot-7 slotman of Mapua coach Atoy Co. “I didn’t even think about the MVP at all.”
The Cardinals will face the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Friday in a playoff to determine the No. 3 seeding in the Final Four.
The scores:
First Game
MAPUA 93—Nimes 21, Is it 14, Menina 14, Oraeme 13, Serrrano 10, Brana 10, Aguirre 6, Nieles 5, Que 0.
ARELLANO 75—Jalalon 37, Salado 9, Cadavis 7, Nicholls 6, Meca 4, Bangga 4, Tano 4, Holts 2, Enriquez 0, Ongolo 0, Gumaru 0, Ortega 0, Zamora 0.
Quarters: 16-15, 49-33, 69-51, 93-75
Second Game
SAN BEDA 83—Adeogun 21, Mocon 16, Sara 12, Dela Cruz 12, Tankoua 10, Soberano 4, Koga 3, Amer 3, Cabanag 2, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Solera 0, Sedillo 0.
LETRAN 78—Cruz 29, Racal 17, Sollano 9, Quinto 9, Nambatac 8, Balanza 2, Calvo 2, Luib 2, Apreku 0, Publico 0.
Quarters: 17-12, 41-30, 59-48, 83-78