MAPUA went through the wringer before nailing its sixth victory in the 86th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan.
Erwin Cornejo and Mark Acosta teamed up for 29 points to upend Letran, 63-60, as they erased a 16-point cushion by the determined Knights to put a full two-game distance ahead of No. 5 Arellano U (4-5) in the race for the Final Four berth.
Cornejo erupted for 11 of his game-high 18 points while Acosta poured in seven of his 11 in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals rebounded from their shocking loss to Arellano last week.
Acosta shone the brightest as he buried a booming triple and canned a pair of charities all in the final 15.4 seconds to cap Mapua’s amazing fight back in the duel between Intramuros neighbors.
“It was a sweet win but it was tough, the boys just didn’t give up,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero.
The Knights dropped to sixth place at 3-7.
In the first game, Jose Rizal placed itself half-game behind defending champion San Sebastian College as Nate Matute delivered another excellent performance in the school’s 66-55 drubbing of winless Perpetual Help.
Riding the crest of a career best 22-point effort in a 76-60 win over the Letran Knights Friday including 15 from behind the rainbow country, Matute fired all his 15 points from the three-point area.
The Bombers now sport an 8-2 record, just a breath away from SSC (8-1) and San Beda (9-0).
Raycon Kabigting registered 12 points while Alex Almario chipped in 10 to make up for the absence of Ildefonso Bulangis (tonsillitis) and John Njei (disciplinary action).
“We’re throwing the ball a lot of times, it will be hard winning if we keep on doing it,” said Meneses, who is gearing for an interesting showdown with the Stags on Sept. 1.
George Allen and Jet Vidal, both Philippine Christian U transferees, paced the Altas with 14 points apiece.
In juniors’ play, Perpetual Help had a reverse fortune as RP youth standout Joshua Alolino drained 26 points tp down a pesky Jose Rizal side, 86-69, to remain at second place with a 7-2 card behind San Beda (8-1).
Letran, for its part, stretched its amazing streak to seven with an 86-74 triumph over Mapua to improve to 7-3, which is good for solo third spot.
The Light Bombers and the Red Robins fell to 6-4 and 5-5 cards, respectively.
The scores:
First Game
Jose Rizal 66- Matute 15, Kabigting 12, Almario 10, Montemayor 10, Etame 7, Apinan 7, J. Lopez 3, Hayes 2, Duncil 0, Badua 0, M. Lopez 0.
Perpetual Help 55- Vidal 14, Allen 14, Ynion 8, Arboleda 7, Alano 7, Jolangcob 3, Asuncion 2, Kintanar 0, Elopre 0.
Second Game
Mapua 63- Cornejo 18, Guillermo 11, Acosta 11, Pascual 5, Ighalo 4, Sarangay 4, Mangahas 4, Stevens 3, Banal 3, Layug 0, Maniego 0, Ranises 0
Letran 60- Ke. Alas 13, Dysam 10, Belencion 9, Kr. Alas 9, Taplah 8, Cortes 6, Espiritu 3, Almazan 2, Belorio 0.
Games Friday (The Arena, San Juan City)
2 p.m.- St. Benilde vs San Sebastian
4 p.m.- Emilio Aguinaldo vs San Beda
r(Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)