Mapua gets valuable experience in PBA D-League stint ahead of NCAA

Marinerong Pilipino’s Adrian Nocum goes for a layup against two La Salle defenders in Game 3 of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Finals. Nocum is among the eight Mapua players that make up the Skippers’ D-League squad. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Mapua has been having a productive preseason in preparation for the upcoming NCAA Season 98.

Months after being swept by Letran in the NCAA Season 97 finals, the Cardinals went to work right away by joining the Filoil Preseason Cup and the PBA D-League where they made the finals before losing to the La Salle Green Archers in a deciding Game 3.

The Cardinals’ core of Warren Bonifacio, Adrian Nocum and Arvin Gamboa played vital roles in Marinerong Pilipino’s finals run.

“This is a big experience for them. This is the D-League and we also faced La Salle who’s a better team. They will get a lot from that,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara, who is also an assistant coach with Marinero.

“With the support from Marinero, we will have experience and [game] plans to bring for the NCAA,” he added.

Marinerong Pilipino had eight players from Mapua in their 14-man roster while former University of the Philippines standout Juan Gomez de Liaño, who was named Aspirants’ Cup MVP, led the Skippers’ campaign. Gomez de Liaño unleashed 30 points in a losing effort in Game 3.

Nocum, meanwhile, produced 18 for Marinerong Pilipino, a sign of good things to come for the Season 97 finalist. 

“We actually did not know we would reach this finals, so it’s a big thing for us especially for the Mapua players,” Alcantara said.

Mapua knocked off San Beda in the stepladder semifinals in Season 97 before falling to Letran in the championship round.