13 September 2019
By Maxine Louise Lagman
MANILA, Philippines – Veteran guard Noah Lugo showed high might as he dropped a career-high performance as Mapua University outlasted Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a double overtime classic, 105-101, on Friday in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Lugo topped with 31 points, five rebounds and four assists that drove the Cardinals towards their first win against the Knights in two years.
“Tinrabaho talaga ng players. Especially yung execution ng offense at defense naming,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara. “Hindi kami bumigay sa overtime – unang overtime, pangalawang overtime, hanggang nag-cramps, pero nandoon at lumaban.”
Letran first blasted an 8-0 run to get a 78-74 advantage in the fourth period. Mapua answered back with six points of its own for a slim two-point lead, but Ato Ular’s putback layup sent the game to its first overtime.
Both teams kept within distance of each other. Larry Muyang got an easy basket in the last 11 seconds of the period to give Letran an 89-87 lead. But, last season’s NCAA juniors Finals MVP, Paolo Hernandez, put in a basket for Mapua in under five seconds, that sent them to another overtime.
Rookie Cyril Gonzales led the Cardinals in the second overtime, as they finally got a four-point lead, 104-100, 24 ticks to go.
Letran had another chance to send the game to a third overtime, but Mapua’s defense stopped them from scoring any further.
Gonzales added 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Laurenz Victoria had 13 markers, three assists, and two boards. Justin Serrano added 12 points as Mapua improved to a 4-6 slate.
For the Knights, Fran Yu topped with 23 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals, while Ular had a 19-point, 23-rebound double-double. Balanza added 17 markers, seven assists, and three boards as they fell to a 7-4 win-loss record in the tournament.
The Scores:
MAPUA 105 – Lugo 31, Gonzales 18, Victoria 13, Serrano 12, Hernandez 9, Nieles 9, Bonifacio 8, Bunag 5, Salenga 0, Aguirre 0, Jabel 0, Garcia 0, Nocum 0
LETRAN 101 – Yu 23, Ular 19, Balanza 17, Muyang 10, Batiller 10, Mina 7, Sangalang 5, Ambohot 4, Caralipio 4, Javillonar 2, Olivario 0, Balagasay 0, Reyson 0, Guarino 0
QUARTER SCORES: 9-18, 34-37, 58-59, 80-80, 89-89 (OT), 105-101 (2OT)
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