By Kevin Estrada
MANILA, Philippines— Mapua fired in a fourth-quarter rally to turn back Perpetual Help, 71-65, behind a career game by reigning MVP Clint Escamis in the NCAA Season 100 Men’s Basketball Tournament Sunday at San Juan Arena.
The guard showed why he was the go-to guy for coach Randy Alcantara, as he scored a new career-high of 28 points on a 9/20 shooting to tow the Cardinals with their second straight win of the season.
Help came aplenty for Escamis, as Mapua had solid contributions from his backcourt partner Marc Cyrus Cuenco who knocked down a dozen, with the forward tandem of John Jabonete and Chris Hubilla pitched in for eight and seven markers respectively.
Mapua saw themselves on the trailing end of a close fight with Perpetual Help, and were even behind with less than six minutes to go when Mark Gojo Cruz’s triple gave them a 60-54 advantage.
But Escamis led a huge comeback for the Cardinals, with him scoring eight points in their 16-5 run that flipped a huge deficit into a 70-65 lead with 25.4 seconds to go when Jeco Bancale nailed a contested three-pointer from the corner.
Hubilla then split his charities for the final count, as Mapua forced a four-way tie at second by dealing the Altas their first loss of the season. Their identical 2-1 records were shared by San Sebastian and defending champions San Beda.
In a valiant effort, Gojo Cruz had 17 for Perpetual Help, as Christian Pagaran and John Cedrick Abis each scored 12 points.
The scores:
MAPUA 71 – Escamis 28, Cuenco 12, Jabonete 8, Hubilla 7, Mangubat 6, Bancale 6, Igliane 2, Agemenyi 2, Ryan 0, Concepcion 0, Fermin 0
PERPETUAL HELP 65 – Gojo Cruz 17, Pagaran 12, Abis 12, Pizarro 9, Manuel 6, Orgo 5, Gelsano 2, Nuñez 1, Boral 1, Montemayor 0, Cauguiran 0
Quarter scores: 23-20, 37-38, 50-53, 71-65
