MAPUA built enough cushion in the second quarter to withstand a late-game rally from Arellano University for a 93-75 rout that earned the Cardinals the last ticket to the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 91 basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Cardinals went on scoring tear in the second period and scored 13 points in transition, sparked by swingman Josan Nimes’s 11 points in the quarter for a 49-33 halftime lead.
San Beda, meanwhile, survived Letran’s late-game comeback for an 83-78 game and snatch the No. 1 seed in the semifinals.
With his teammates failing to click on the offensive end, Arellano University guard Jiovani Jalalon single-handedly tried to salvage their campaign, answering with 21 second-half points to trim the deficit to 10, 59-69, nine minutes left.
But Jalalon went down with cramps in his right calf in the 4:34 mark of the fourth quarter, giving Mapúa the opening to push back its lead to a high of 20 points, 89-69.
Nimes finished with 21 points on a 9-for-14 shooting with four assists. Nigerian center Allwell Oraeme, the favorite to nab both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards this season, added 13 points and 28 rebounds for Mapua.
CJ Isit and Darrell Menina had 14 markers apiece, while sophomore forward Justin Serrano contributed 10 points.
The Cardinals made their eighth semifinals appearance—but their first since 2010.
Jalalon put up an impressive all-around performance, finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Nimes, the skipper playing his final season in a Cardinals uniform, said the feeling of breaking a four-season spell was an overwhelming weight thrown off his shoulder.
“I don’t think words can really describe [the feeling of being in the Final Four]. Ever since my first year here [in Mapúa], we have been talking of never been in the Final Four. It’s a great feeling to make a lot of people proud,” Nimes said.
Mapúa will now take on Jose Rizal University on Friday at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena to determine the No. 3 seed in the Final Four.
In juniors action, Ricci Rivero exploded for 40 points with 10 rebounds to power La Salle Greenhills to an 88-71 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines Cavite in the fourth-place playoff match.
Image credits: Kevin de la Cruz