Mangahas lifts Mapua in OT; Cards nip Blazers, vault to 3rd
MANILA, Philippines—Allan Mangahas fired a personal season-high 25 points, including four of his team’s six points in the extra period, as Mapua squeaked past St. Benilde, 65-63, in overtime and vaulted to solo third Friday in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Cardinals tightened the defensive noose in overtime while drawing offensive firepower from the 2008 Rookie of the Year Mangahas to secure their fifth win in seven outings that allowed them to move past idle Jose Rizal U (4-2).
“It was all about defense,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero, whose squad is one victory away from matching their win total last season.
“If we want to get to the next level, we have to defend well, and we did that today.”
Later, Emilio Aguinaldo College climbed out of an early double-digit hole and inflicted more misery on Perpetual Help with a 78-66 victory.
Emilian Vargas pumped in 21 points and Claude Cubo finished with 19 and 12 rebounds for the Generals, who rose to 2-4 and forged a three-team tie for fifth with Letran and Arellano.
“I’m glad we were steady in the second half and playing as a team,” said EAC coach Nomar Isla. “We wore them down in the second half.”
The Altas led 26-11 early in the second period but lost steam in the fourth quarter, where they were held to just eight points.
Slotman Mark Sarangay also played big for the Cardinals, grabbing a season-high 21 rebounds.
Mapua forced five turnovers in overtime, one of which led to Mangahas’ triple with 1:30 remaining that gave the Cardinals a 63-61 cushion.
The Blazers still threatened at 63-64 after Mark de Guzman converted on a fastbreak lay-up with 11.5 seconds left, but Acosta restored the two-point cushion with a free-throw split.
The senior scores:
First Game
MAPUA 65—Mangahas 25, Acosta 11, Sarangay 8, Cornejo 6, Parala 5, Guillermo 4, Banal 4, Maniego 2, Stevens 0, Ranises 0.
ST. BENILDE 63—Lastimosa 21, Tan 13, Manalac 9, De Guzman 9, Wong 5, Abolucion 3, Sinco 2, Amin 1, Nayve 0, McCoy 0, Dela Paz 0.
Quarters: 16-18, 29-33, 49-47, 59-59 (reg), 65-63
Second Game
EAC 78—Vargas 21, Cubo 19, Mendoza 9, L. Yaya 8, R. Yaya 7, Tuazon 6, Chiong 5, Santos 3, Sanchez 0, Lapitan 0, Jamon 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 66—Danganan 14, Alano 14, Vidal 14, Ynion 11, Arboleda 5, Allen 5, Sumera 4, Elopre 1, Sison 0.
Quarters: 11-21, 33-36, 53-58, 78-66
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