NCAA: Mapua coach attributes first win to veterans

NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Mapua finally barged into the win column and it has its veterans to thank for.

Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara credited two of his core players in Warren Bonifacio and Paolo Hernandez after snapping their eight-game skid on Saturday.

“I can see them in game and practice, they don’t back down. They can be tired but they’re always there to end the game. We can see how Paolo and Warren played, and it positively affected the team,” Alcantara said after a 67-55 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Bonifacio and Hernandez were vital in the team’s Cinderella run last season but have failed to give the same impact this season.

Still, Bonifacio makes sure to remain an effective leader as Mapua’s captain especially amid the Cardinals’ struggles.

“We start in practice. I call out my teammates who are laughing or relaxing in training because I want them to be competitive even in training,” the 6-foot-4 big man said.

Hernandez, on the other hand, is taking it upon himself to lead his teammates in any way he can.

“I’m kind of pressured to be a leader but that pressure, I bring in training. I still accept that role especially because Boots (Arvin Gamboa) is not here today,” said Hernandez.

Gamboa hurt his left foot after an awkward landing in the fourth quarter of their game against the Generals. He underwent an MRI on Saturday.

Bonifacio is posting a near double-double at the end of the first round with 9.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while Hernandez is tallying 8.4 points per outing on a 31 percent shooting from the field.