GAMES TOMORROW
(The Arena, San Juan)
12 noon – Perpetual vs. San Sebastian
2:30 p.m. – Letran vs. JRU
TESTED this early in the season, defending titlists Mapua University needed double overtime before escaping past gutsy Lyceum of the Philippines in a nail-biter opener 90-89 yesterday as the 101st NCAA men’s basketball tournament got going at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran JC Recto sent the game into overtime while Marc Cuenco delivered the game-sealing free throw as the Cardinals lived up to their pre-season billing, taking the early lead in Pool A at 1-0.
Recto went all out for the Cardinals with a near double-double outing of 16 points and nine rebounds on top of five steals and three assists, while Cuenco tallied 14 markers, four boards and two dimes.
Mapua also got key contributions from Earl Sapasap, who had 16 points, and Yam Concepcion who had a double-double performance of 13 markers and 10 rebounds.
“Ini-expect naman namin na magiging tough iyong game kasi alam ko ready rin iyong Lyceum, pinaghadaan din kami. Champion kami kaya halos lahat naman ng team gusto kami talunin,” said Recto, who scored seven points in the second overtime.
“Nire-ready lang namin iyong sarili namin na lahat ng game magiging tough. Basta sa isip lang namin, [kahit] overtime ready parin kami na talagang gagawin namin iyong best namin tapos composed lang,” he added.
Both squads fought tooth and nail in the final quarter that ended at 74-all and managed to score just six points each in the first overtime that ended at 80-all.
From there, both squads exchanged their firepower and leveled the score anew 87-all at the 1:10 mark on a basket from Recto.
With 36 seconds remaining, Lyceum’s Michael Versoza hit a jump shot to equalize the match at 89 but Lance Aurigue of the Pirates fouled Cuenco, sending him to the charity line where he sank his second free throw to make it 90-89 with 12 seconds left. Mapua held its ground the rest of the way.
Guard Renz Villegas led the scoring for the Pirates with a game-high 23 points, Versoza had a double-double of 14 markers and 12 rebounds, while Jonathan Dialeg chipped in 13 points.
On Saturday at The Arena in San Juan, Mapua collides with Arellano University, while Lyceum aims to bounce back on Sunday against Perpetual Help.
