DEFENDING champion San Beda University and Mapua University boosted their Final Four bids yesterday with big wins in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Cardinals whipped the Perpetual Help Altas 71-57 while the Red Lions scored a 89-59 thrashing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
Marc Cuenco showed the way for Mapua with 21 markers while reigning MVP Clint Escamis added 18 points.
“Unang-una nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord sa nakuha naming panalo. Iyong mga coaches kasi naming, after training pinag-sho-shooting kami, pinagkukuha pa kami ng bola, at nagpapasalamat ako sa mga teammates ko nag-create sila para sa akin at sa mga coaches sa tiwala,” Cuenco, who rifled in six three-pointers, said.
“Sinasabi lang namin sa isa’t isa na wala pa kaming napapatunayan. Malayo pa kami sa goal namin so one game at a time. Iyon ang goal namin, one or two (sa standings) para sa twice-to-beat hanggang makapunta kami doon and siyempre championship, iyon ang goal namin,” he added.
With the victory, the Cardinals improved to 12-3, behind pacesetting College of St. Benilde’s 12-2 mark, while Perpetual slipped to 6-10.
Guard Emman Tagle scored 20 points for San Beda while Bismarck Lina, who returned after a one-game suspension, added 18 markers along with four rebounds.
The Lions solidified their hold on third with a 10-5 slate, a win away from reaching the Last Four.
“Hindi naman namin naisip na gumanti. It’s just we want to improve as the season progresses so hopefully, (come) latter part when the playoffs start, iyon nga, iyong game namin, iyong play namin improves,” San Beda strategist Yuri Escueta said. “Very important (iyong ganitong panalo), of course. Iyon nga, iyong confidence that you can bring coming into, hopefully nga we enter the playoffs and in a good position, so this is very important for us especially for the guys like sina Emman Tagle (and) Bismarck who just came back from suspension so malaking bagay na we have them back and get them in the flow of things.”
Big man JP Boral and Christian Pagaran paced the Altas with 14 and 13 markers, respectively, while John Abis added nine.
King Gurtiza and Harvey Pagsanjan’s combined 20 points went to naught as EAC fell into a triple-tie with the Letran Knights and Lyceum Pirates with 7-8 cards.
