KENT SALADO scattered 20 points and Zach Nichols drained four three-pointers as Arellano University handed Mapua its first stinging loss, 96-75, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 92 seniors basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
It was a different story against the erstwhile league-leading Cardinals when the Chiefs found unlikely heroes in Salado and Nichols, who throttled their squad for a convincing bounce back victory despite the missing the numbers of Most Valuable Player (MVP) award front-runner Jio Jalalon.
Reggie Ilagan led San Sebastian with 23 points and five rebounds.
Salado delivered when ace Jalalon couldn’t. He scored 12 points in the third quarter when the Chiefs transformed a four-point lead to a 15-point advantage entering the final period.
Arellano University never looked back from there.
Jalalon struggled all game and finished with a measly eight points. He missed 13 of the 16 attempts he took, but dished out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
Reigning MVP Allwell Oraeme returned from a one-game absence, but fouled out late in the third period and could only score nine points and pull down 11 rebounds. His numbers were below his averages of 21 points and league-highs 21 caroms and 3.7 blocks per game.
The Chiefs improved to 3-1 won-lost, while the Cardinals fell to 4-1.
In Tuesday’s other game, reigning titlist Letran rode Rey Nambatac’s career performance in beating San Sebastian, 90-77.
Nambatac sizzled with 40 points—12 in the first quarter, eight in the second and 10 each in the last two periods—to help propel the Knights to their fourth straight win after dropping their opening day game to San Beda.
Nambatac eclipsed his previous high of 33 points he scored in a 76-72 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College in June 28. He became the first Knight to breach the 40-point mark since Kevin Alas did the feat four years ago.
The last player who broke 40 points in the NCAA was Perpetual Help’s Bright Akhuetie, who erupted for 44 points last season.