By Kevin Estrada
Marc Cyrus Cuenco showed ice in his veins when needed the most as Mapua edged EAC, 82-79, in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil-EcoOil Centre.
The Cardinals secured a season sweep against the gritty Generals, as it climbed to solo second place at 8-3.
Cuenco fired 16 points, five of which came in the final minute while reigning MVP Clint Escamis had 23 markers to lead Mapua.
Chris Hubilla added 16.
Their hard-earned win gave Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara a relief that their endgame composure clicked at the right time.
“Every game, dikit lagi,” he said after the game. “Patatagan sa huli, at swerte na lang sa amin napunta yung panalo.”
With John Jabonete suspended, the Cardinals’ front court was under more pressure after Marc Andrei Igliane got ejected with a disqualifying foul.
Igliane rear-ended an on rushing James Manacho with 5:10 left in the second quarter, leaving the EAC forward sprawling on the floor after a bad fall.
Despite the setback, Mapua got their act after the halftime break, leading by as much as 10, (59-49), in the third quarter before the Generals ignited a fourth-quarter uprising.
King Gurtiza had nine of his 14 in the payoff period as EAC clawed their way back to tie the game at 79-all after Kyle Jacob sunk a pair of free throws with 33 seconds remaining.
Cuenco had the last laugh, as he launched the go-ahead rainbow shot with 15.2 ticks remaining.
The Cardinals finally stifled the Generals’ last-ditch effort to send the game into overtime when Gurtiza came up short on his desperation three-pointer as time expired.
The scores:
MAPÚA 82 – Escamis 23, Cuenco 16, Hubilla 16, Mangubat 10, Recto 7, Concepcion 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Agemenyi 0, Fermin 0, Pantaleon 0, Abdulla 0
EAC 79 – Pagsanjan 17, Gurtiza 14, Quinal 10, Bagay 8, Jacob 7, Oftana 6, Manacho 5, Lucero 4, Ochavo 2, Bacud 2, Luciano 2, Loristo 2, Postanes 0, Umpad 0, Devara 0
Quarter scores: 19-21, 46-44, 63-57, 82-79
