Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Mapua nipped College of St. Benilde, 86-83, to record its first back-to-back wins after two years in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Laurenz Victoria came through in the clutch anew and finished with a team-high 16 points on top of six rebounds and six assists to lead the Cardinals to their first back-to-back wins since Season 92.
The Cards improved to 4-8, surpassing their win total last season.
“That’s good news but we have to win more,” said Mapua head coach Atoy Co.
CSB slipped to fourth at 7-5 while giving idle Letran sole possession of third place with a half-game lead in the standings.
In the other men’s game of Season 94, Perpetual Help shut down Arellano in the first half en route to a 57-45 win.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines has protested its loss to Ateneo last Wednesday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.
In a letter by team manager and lawyer Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero, UP urged the UAAP to take action against what it deemed were “deplorable” calls made by “incompetent” referees during the Maroons’ 79-87 defeat to the Blue Eagles.