Mapua wallops PHL Youth five for first Filoil win

MANILA, Philippines – The Mapua Cardinals poured in 63 points in the second half to blow out the Philippine Youth Under-19 National Team, 100-70, for their first win in five tries in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the San Juan Arena Monday.

The Nationals looked to be on their way to their first win of the tournament when they managed to hold on to the lead for the first 25 minutes of the match. They posted as much as a 12-point lead, 24-12, by the end of the first period.

The reigning Southeast Asian Basketball Association champions managed to hold off the more veteran squad with accurate outside shooting and team play despite fielding an under-sized lineup that was without most of their teammates and more importantly, their centers.

But three botched lay-ups and five missed free throws to close out the third period by the Phl team proved to be costly as Mapua capitalized on them to take a 64-59 lead they would never surrender.

After Rey Cantos scored on a short stab off a Josan Nimes assist to tie the match at 57-all, Mapua closed out the third period with a 5-2 run for a 64-59 lead. The onslaught continued behind Nimes, Jessie Saitanan, Exequil Biteng and Carlos Isit, who presided over the 36-11 fourth period wind up.

Five Cardinals scored in double figures with Saitanan leading the way with 20. Joseph Eriobu added 19, Nimes and Biteng chipped in 15 markers each, while Rey Cantos finished with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Ranbill Tongco led the hard-luck RP team with 20 points while Paul Desiderio and Dave Yu added 18 and 15 points, respectively. The Phl team fell to 0-5 in the tournament.

“We played good defense in the second half,” said a relieved Mapua head coach Atoy Co, who warned about complacency before the match. “I told them not to take them lightly but the feeling was ‘kayang-kaya.’ And the RP team was shooting 3-pointers lie they were free throws in the first half.”

The Nationals shot 6-10 three-pointers in the first half.