NCAA: Mapua wards off EAC to keep Final 4 bid alive

MANILA, Philippines–Mapua weathered a hard-fighting Emilio Aguinaldo College, 79-76, to keep its Final Four hopes alive in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament.

Trailing by two near the end, Noah Lugo and Laurenz Victoria came to the rescue as the Cardinals held off the Generals for their fifth win in 11 games.

Marwin Taywan turned from hero to heel after his potential game-winning three hit nothing but air in the closing seconds.

Prior to that airball, Taywan made it a two-point deficit after back-to-back baskets only to lose grip in the end that kept the Generals plummeting further to a 1-11 record.

Scores:

MAPUA 79—Lugo 16, Bonifacio 13, Victoria 11, Gonzales 9, Gamboa 7, Bunag 6, Serrano 5, Nieles 4, Nocum 4, Salenga 2, Aguirre 2, Garcia 0.

EAC 76—Maguliano 15, Taywan 13, De Guzman 12, Mendoza 10, Dayrit 8, Cadua 7, Gurtiza 4, Luciano 3, Estacio 2, Martin 2, Gonzales 0.

Quarters: 17-20, 35-43, 58-56, 79-76