Cards, Titans set Martin Cup title tiff

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 San Beda College-Manila.

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 supported by Bauerfeind supports and orthoses, and medical compression stockings, and Wang’s Basketball.

The Titans, led by Jordan Rios (24), Earvin Maravilla (15) and Willy Kamguia (13),  outplayed the Red Lions-A in the final quarter for a 73-66 beating.

The Cardinals and the Titans meet in a winner-take-all finals showdown at 10 a.m. today in the same venue.

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 presence underneath in the last minute 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 against 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 had eight and seven points, respectively. 

King Esplana and Munsayac delivered 21 and 18 points, respectively, for the Generals.

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.