By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Mapua University Cardinals secured a spot in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament finals by mounting a significant endgame run to eliminate the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers, 78-67, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, November 28.
In a back-and-forth contest in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals seized control at 62-58 with key baskets from Clint Escamis.
However, the Blazers responded with a surge, briefly reclaiming the lead at 65-64 on a three-point play by Miguel Oczon.
The Cardinals then went on a 14-2 finishing run behind connections from Paolo Hernandez, Jopet Soriano and Escamis to secure the victory and the first NCAA finals seat.
Hernandez top-scored with 22 points, with half coming in the fourth quarter.
Escamis added 21 markers, including 14 in the second half, while Marc Cuenco ended with 10 points for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals needed only a victory to advance to the NCAA men’s basketball finals due to their twice-to-beat advantage in finishing the double-round eliminations as the no. 1 team.
This was Mapua’s first appearance in the finals since their runner-up finish during NCAA Season 97, when they lost to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights.
The school is also eyeing its first crown since 1992.
Oczon top-scored for the NCAA Season 85 runner-up Blazers with 17 points. Miguel Corteza added 14 markers and eight rebounds, while Prince Carlos ended with 10 points.
Meanwhile, the San Beda University Red Lions forced a rubber match in their semifinal series with the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates after hacking out a wire-to-wire 89-68 domination.
Jacob Cortez had another solid performance with 28 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with eight assists, four rebounds and three steals for the no. 3 ranked Red Lions.
Yukien Andrada chipped in 12 markers, four rebounds and two assists, while Nygel Gonzales contributed 12 points for San Beda, which will face the Pirates in a do-or-die game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, December 1.
MAPUA 78 — Hernandez 22, Escamis 21, Cuenco 10, Bonifacio 9, Soriano 6, Rodillo 4, Recto 3, Asuncion 3, Igliane 0, Fornis 0, Dalisay 0.
CSB 67 — Oczon 17, Corteza 14, Carlos 10, Gozum 9, Sangco 5, Mara 5, Turco 3, Arciaga 2, Marcos 2, Nayve 0, Cajucom 0, Marasigan 0, Davis 0.
Quarterscores: 14-18, 34-37, 56-55, 78-67./ASC, WDJ