RANGED against a Lyceum side playing for pride and bragging rights, Mapua University refused to let its guard down yesterday.
The Cardinals eventually humbled the Pirates 75-65 and kept alive their hopes of gaining the No. 2 slot in the Final Four of the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
Paolo Hernandez wound up with 13 points, two rebounds, and five assists for Mapua, while Toby Agustin chipped in 13 markers on three three-pointers.
Brian Lacap also had 12 points, while Arvin Gamboa notched a double-double of 10 and 11 for the Cards, who finished their elimination round campaign with four straight wins, including a stunning 68-54 victory over San Beda University five days ago, for a 7-2 record.
Mapua will clinch the second seed that goes with a twice-to-beat advantage if the Red Lions lose to defending champion Letran in their highly anticipated finals rematch tomorrow.
A win by San Beda will drop the Cards, who last reached the Final Four in 2016, to the play-in round.
Lyceum failed to recover from a 69-72 defeat to Perpetual Help last Sunday and ended the season with a 2-7 slate.
In the other game, Arellano University edged Jose Rizal University 65-62 to advance to the play-in round.
Prized big man Justin Arana led the Chiefs with 18 points, a career-high 29 rebounds, and two blocks, while Axel Doromal added 13 markers and two boards.
Gelo Sablan also had 11 and four as Arellano scored a fitting follow-up to its 70-55 thumping of Emilio Aguinaldo College last Sunday and wound up with a 4-5 card after the elims.
The Heavy Bombers, coming off a 59-81 setback at the hands of the Knights last Saturday, bowed out dead-last with a 1-8 record.
Hernandez and teammates Lacap, Warren Bonifacio, Joaquin Garcia, and Jasper Salenga suited up for Mapua’s high school squad. Familiarity is working wonders for them, according to Hernandez.
“For me, malaking factor iyong samahan namin noong high school dahil nadala namin iyon dito sa college. Familiarity ang feeling kong big factor din kung bakit nandito kami sa posisyon namin ngayon,” Hernandez said.
“Sa sistema rin nila coach Randy (Alcantara) at coach Yong (Garcia), nadala namin sa seniors,” he added.
The Cards trailed 32-34 at the half but battled back and grabbed a 53-47 lead heading into the payoff period.
