MANILA, Philippines – The Mapua Cardinals prevailed in a friendly encounter with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 90-88, last Tuesday in the senior division semifinals of the 12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.
The Cardinals, leaning on their defense on point guard Francis Munsayac in the final minute, arranged a finals showdown with the Enderun College Titans in this cagefest, which is supported by Bauerfeind supports and orthoses, and medical compression stockings, and Wang’s Basketball.
The Titans, led by Jordan Rios Earvin Maravilla and Willy Kamguia with 24, 15 and 13 points, bucked their rival’s homecourt edge and outplayed the San Red Lions-A in the final quarter for a 73-66 beating.
The Cardinals and the Titans will now meet in a winner-take-all finals showdown at 10 a.m. (Oct. 29), Thursday also at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.
Stephen Que’s split free throw with 37 seconds to go proved to be the winning basket for the Cardinals.
After that, 6’5 Nigerian big man Allwell Oraeme’s kept Munsayac from scoring twice, first on an alley-oop shot in the last 9.2 seconds, and then on a putback at the buzzer.
It was the Cardinals’ second win over the Generals since their free-for-all marred clash last month in the 90th NCAA season cagefest.
Mark Brana fired 28 points for the Cardinals, while Que had 18, Oraeme banged in 16, while JR Raflores and Andretti Steven banged in 8 and 7 points while King Esplana and Munsayac delivered 21 and 18 points for the Generals.
Meanwhile, Rios showed the way with 24 points for the Titans, who shifted to an aggressive mode in the final period.
The Titans, coached by former Far Eastern University cager Pipo Noundou, brought in 6’9 Nigerian Kingsley Segamars, who hooked up with Mark Gatdula and Maravilla for a decisive 14-2 blast in the last three minutes.
The Red Lions, coached by Ford Arao, drew 13 points from Marcus Ejercito and Kyle Carlos.