Mapua nails FilOil quarterfinals berth

MANILA—The Mapua Cardinals clawed back from 17 points down to fend off the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 75-71, and punched in the last ticket to the quarterfinals in Group B of the Filoil Flying V
Hanes Preseason Premier Cup Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan.

The De La Salle Green Archers and the San Beda Red Lions likewise propped up their bids for the last two slots in Group A with routs of their respective foes.

A  triple from the right wing with 1:08 left in the game courtesy of Jason Pascual, followed by a well contested, go-ahead trey across the court by Rodel Ranises with 29.4 ticks completed the stunning comeback by the Cardinals.

A hasty layin in the dwindling seconds by Andretti Stevens sealed the victory, which boosted Mapua (5-3) past the Maroons in Group B standings for the playoffs.

Pascual, Ranises, Fil-Palestinian Yousef Taha and center Mark Sarangay had 11 points each.

The Cardinals went on a 18-6 tear to open up the last period and trimmed the double digit buffer to, 65-63, capped by Pascual’s three-point play with 4:46 left in ht the contest.

Mike Silungan, who orchestrated the 59-42 lead by the Maroons in the third with back-to-back treys, milked the clock in UP’s last possession, only to see his potential game-winning triple hit the back iron.

After going six-for-six from downtown in the first three quarters, Silungan—along with the Maroons’ offense—turned downright sour. UP was sorely outscored, 12-30, in the fourth quarter.

Silungan finished with 26 points in a losing cause for UP, who dropped to fourth despite having the same win-loss record with Mapua.

In the first game, San Beda trounced a depleted San Sebastian squad, 97-81, with sophomore guard Mar Villahermosa leading the way with 24 points.

Villahermosa poured in half of his output in the fourth quarter to carry the Red Lions (4-2) against the Stags (5-2), who missed the services of top gunners Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang—both sidelined with injuries.

La Salle, who are running sixth in Group A with 3-3, also made short work of the winless Lyceum, 96-62.

Double-digit outings from Luigi Dela Paz, Joshua Webb, Simon Atkins and rookie Norbert Torres paced the Archers, who are gearing up for an all-important clash against archrival Ateneo this Sunday.

The scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 97–Villahermosa 24, Marcelo 12, Pascual J. 10, Dela Rosa 10, Amer 9, Lanete 8, Lim 8, Adeogun 7, Caram 4, Semerad A. 3, Pascual K. 2, Semerad D. 0, Pontejos 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Pascual 23, Del Rio 21, Semira 11, Balucanag 6, Dela Cruz 6, Maiquez 3, Miranda 3, Antipuesto 3, Ferrer 3, Pagkatipunan 2, Magno 0, Gatchailan 0, Vitug 0.
Quarters: 24- 22, 54-37, 69-61, 97-81
Second Game
LA SALLE 96—Dela Paz 15, Torres 14, Webb 14, Atkins 10, Paredes 8, Revilla 6, Van Opstal 6, Sara 5, Villanueva 4, Andrada 4, Gotladera 2, Vosotros 2, Marata 2, Tampus 2, Reyes 2, Mendoza 2.
LYCEUM 62–Guevarra 27, Cayabyab 10, Santos 7, Ko 4, Zamora 4, Napiza 4, Laude 3, Azores 2, Anacta 1, Lacap 0, Pascual 0, Martinez 0, Mallari 0, Salazar 0.
Quarters: 31-19, 44-32, 74-46, 96-62
Third Game
MAPUA 75—Taha 11, Pascual 11, Ranises 11, Sarangay 11, Banal 8, Ighalo 6, Parala 6, Mangahas 4, Chien 3, Stevens 2, Cantos 2, Nimes 0.
UP 71–Silungan 26, Romero 10, Manuel 10, Montecastro 8, Mbah 6, Gomez 5,Maniego 4, Lopez 2, Gamboa 0, Juruena 0, Ball 0, Pascual 0, Weirzba 0, Wong 0, Evangelista 0.
Quarters:17-20, 28-43, 45-59, 75-71