Cardinals grablead share; Blazers up

Averting a huge collapse in the stretch, Mapua leaned on a big Paolo Hernandez triple to pull out a 65-59 win over San Sebastian on Tuesday and make it a three-way logjam at the top of Season 97 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at La Salle Greenhills gym.

The Cardinals rose to 3-0 with the win, tying idle defending champion Letran and San Beda even as College of St. Benilde also won a third straight game after losing on opening day, pounding Emilio Aguinaldo, 78-68.

Mapua sat on a 47-28 lead before the Stags stormed back and threatened at 59-55, after a JM Calma basket heading into the final two minutes. Hernandez then canned that trey for the breathing room the Cardinals needed.

Incidentally, Mapua and Letran will part ways on Friday.

“For us, it is always about getting better every game. That’s really our goal. Win or lose, we wanted to get better. We have to play hard up to the end,” said Blazers coach Charles Tiu.

Robi Nayve dropped 14 of his 18 points in the second half as the Blazers broke away from a slim 38-36 at the break to send the Generals their third loss in four contests.

Ralph Robin had 21 points while JC Luciano added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Generals.

San Sebastian fell in a tie with Arellano University and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at 1-2. INQ