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MAPUA
virtually silenced San Sebastian in the third quarter to
score a 63-54 win in their knockout match Wednesday to
clinch the fourth and last Final Four slot in the 84th
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s
basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay
City.
The
Cardinals limited the Stags to an atrocious one-of-14
shooting in the pivotal period and held on the rest of
the way to advance to their fourth-straight semifinals
appearance.
“This is
a very good win for us, and I commend my boys for coming
out with their best,” said coach Leo Isaac.
The
victory earned Mapua a date with back-to-back champion
San Beda, which clinched the top seed after posting the
tournament-best 11-3 win-loss slate in the eliminations.
The Red Lions hold a twice-to-beat advantage, meaning
the Cardinals must win twice to advance into the finals.
“I hope
we could continue the way we played today into the Final
Four. We will bring back our slow break game sa
Final Four. Kung paano sila [Red Lions]
magiging patient eh hindi na namin problema ’yan,”
said Isaac.
It will
be the third-straight time Mapua and San Beda will meet
each other in the semifinals. The Red Lions won the
previous two.
The
Cardinals emerged from the dugout at intermission armed
with a stifling defense. They limited their foes to only
three points in the third canto while scoring 23 points
of their own to turn an erstwhile precarious 26-25 lead
into a commanding 49-28 advantage going into the payoff
period.
Slotman
Neil Pascual scored a mammoth double-double of 17 points
and 18 rebounds, while Allan Mangahas added 15 markers
to lead Mapua, which closed the third quarter with a
16-0 run.
San
Sebastian managed to come within three at 56-53 going
into the final two minutes, but the George Gallent-mentored
squad could only score one point the rest of the way.
It was a
disappointing loss for the Stags, who bounced back from
a 1-4 start and won a season-best eight consecutive
games only to falter when it mattered most—losing three
of their last four outings to miss the Final Four for
the third consecutive year.
In the
juniors’ division, the Letran Squires edged the Jose
Rizal Heavy Bombers, 94-93, to secure the second finals
berth.
The
Squires will face three-time champion San Sebastian
Staglets, who swept their elimination matches, in the
finals. |
