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KELVIN
de la Peña is the reason the Cardinals are surging and
the Altas are skidding.
The
reigning Most Valuable Player had an all-around game of
16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to power host
Mapua to its third-straight win, a 76-65 trashing of
University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, in the 84th
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
 It
was the fourth-year combo guard’s best game of the
season, as he towed the Intramuros-based squad to solo
third place with a 3-1 won-lost record, just behind
defending champion San Beda and last year’s finalist
Letran in the eight-team field.
“De la
Peña is the leader of this team and we really need him
to provide leadership. I’m glad he delivered, and he
continues to improve his game,” said coach Leo Isaac.
De la
Peña came into the match averaging 10 points, five
rebounds and 3.67 assists. He improved in all those
departments. The Cardinals have not lost since suffering
an 85-56 humiliation at the hands of the Red Lions on
opening day.
The
24-year-old hotshot poured most of his stats early in
the second half, when Mapua rallied from a 36-33
halftime deficit to take a 65-51 advantage going into
the final four minutes.
The
Altas did not go down without a fight though, as they
trimmed the gap to four points, 67-63, on a shot by
Ronald Reyes with 2:07 left.
But two
three-pointers from de la Peña and another from TG
Guillermo in the ensuing plays doused Perpetual’s late
charge, giving Mapua the longest winning streak in the
league so far.
“They [Altas]
were able to anticipate our set plays kaya we had
to improvise. Buti na lang we were able to
regroup and it’s a good thing that he [de la Peña] was
able to provide the leadership,” explained Isaac.
Sophomore playmaker Jonathan Banal also made his
presence felt for Mapua with 12 points, two rebounds and
two assists.
Reyes
finished with a game-high 22 points, while slotman Raffy
Inion had a double-double of 10 markers and 10 boards to
pace the Altas, who lost their second-straight game
after debuting with 60-55 win over the Stags of San
Sebastian College-Recoletos.
The Las
Piñas-based dribblers came into the match hoping to
bounce back from a 61-54 setback against the College of
Saint Benilde Blazers.
In the
juniors division, the Perpetual Altalettes used a
balanced attack to rout the Mapua-Malayan Red Robins,
106-51.
Gregory
Flor scored 17 points, Joseph Eriobu banged in 15, while
Ralvin Torres and Joel Jolangcob combined for 25 markers
for Perpetual. |
