By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Mapua University Cardinals kept defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights winless in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament after a 77-71 beating at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Wednesday night, October 11.
Clint Escamis tallied 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Marc Cuenco registered a double-double record with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Cardinals surged to a 5-1 win-loss slate.
Leading by as much as 14 points at the half, the Cardinals suddenly saw their lead cut to 56-55 by a furious 20-7 scoring run by the Knights, but a layup by Escamis and a triple by Cuenco increased their lead to 64-57.
Mapua’s lead went up to 14 points anew, but Letran made its last push courtesy of Kevin Santos, Vince Cuajao and Kurt Reyson to cut the deficit to 71-76. A free throw by Cuenco secured the victory for the Cardinals.
Cuajao spearheaded the three-time defending champion Knights with 20 points and one rebound, while Reyson registered 16 points, four rebounds and six assists as they dropped to a 0-6 slate.
Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals came up with huge hits in the overtime period as they handed Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates its first loss of the season, 83-76.
The Generals opened the extension period with back-to-back three-pointers from veteran guards King Gurtiza and Nat Cosejo as they jumped to an 80-74 advantage over the Pirates.
The Pirates managed to cut the deficit to 76-80 following a basket by MacLaude Guadana, but a jumper from Generals’ Ralph Robin with 21 seconds left sealed the win for the Generals.
Gurtiza top-scored for the Generals with 18 points, while Cosejo contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Robin and Nicole Quinal had 13 and 11 markers, respectively, as they bounced back from two straight losses to improve to a 3-2 slate.
MAPUA 77 — Escamis 20, Cuenco 20, Bonifacio 11, Soriano 9, Asuncion 5, Rosillo 4, Hernandez 4, Recto 4, Bancale 0, Dalisay 0, Fornis 0.
LETRAN 71 — Cuajao 20, Reyson 16, Santos 14, Javillonar 6, Go 6, Jumao-as 3, Ariar 22, Bojorcelo 0, Monje 0, Garupil 0, Batallier 0, Guarino 0, Fajardo 0.
Quarterscores: 24-13, 49-35, 56-55, 77-71./ASC, WDJ