Mapua, Jose Rizal U hack out wins against separate foes in NCAA

MANILA, Philippines—Mapua bucked an end-game scare and overcame the cellar-dwelling yet resolute Perpetual Help, 65-63, Monday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Spry guard Allan Mangahas scored on huge baskets down the stretch, but committed a crucial turnover with 2.4 seconds left that nearly cost the Cardinals the game at the Arena in San Juan.

Mangahas nailed a shotclock beating triple with 2:10 to play, then split his charities with 33.8 ticks, but lost the leather in Mapua’s last possession, which gave Perpetual a chance for a game-winner.

Mangahas recovered the ball as he lost it, but Mapua was called for a 24 second violation.

But for the Cardinals, whose 3-6 record in the NCAA belies their performance last season—good enough for the final four—victories like this will be nothing but help.

“A win is a win. Two points, 10 points, 20 points—we’ll take it. This was a very important game for us,” said Mapua head coach Chito Victolero, whose squad concluded the first round of eliminations.

The veteran marksman Jet Vidal, who split his charities for Perpetual Help with 26.3 seconds, misfired on what he has done countless times—a potential match-clinching triple.

Vidal, who finished with 12 points, had a good look at the basket, but had to alter his shot midair as a Mapuan defender blocked his view.

“They’re good. They play as a team, that’s what makes them tough,” said Victolero of Perpetual Help, which still couldn’t follow up its only win of the season in eight starts.

Mapua raced to a 10-point advantage with seven minutes left in the payoff period as Jonathan Banal struck with back-to-back treys while forward Josan Nimes banged in four points in that stretch.

Nimes notched a game-best 21 points, Mangahas and Banal added 11 and nine markers, in that order.

But even as the Cardinals held their biggest lead of the match after a nip-and-tuck three quarters, the Altas slowly weathered the deficit to come as close as two.

Mapua won despite a clumsy showing with 21 turnovers compared to Perpetual Help’s eight.

Earlier, Jose Rizal University snapped a three-game losing skid with a 74-68 victory over final-four hopeful Lyceum.

Nate Matute caught fire from downtown with five triples for a 23-point finish as the Bombers nabbed their third victory with five losses.

Matute scored nine points in the fourth period and carried his squad past the dominating performance of Lyceum’s Chris Cayabyab and Floricel Guevarra.

Cayabyab and Guevarra tied for a the Pirates’ team-high 21 points while Shane Ko and Allan Santos plucked 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

Lyceum, guest team this season, remained in fourth place despite the setback with a 4-5 slate.