Chiefs win anew; Mariners stay unscathed in Fr. Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines – The Arellano University Chiefs scored back-to-back wins, while the Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners stayed unbeaten over the weekend in the 12th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball tournament.

Donald Gumaru sank the winning basket at endgame to carry the Chiefs past the Adamson University Falcons, 77-76, in a thrilling encounter last Sunday at the Far Eastern University gym in Morayta.

It was the Chiefs’ third straight triumph, and it came a day after they trounced Philippine College of Criminology, 124-51, at the Arellano University-Legarda gymnasium.

Elvin Chan shot 14 points while Jake Yagonia added 13 for the Mariners, who subdued the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 65-56.

The Chiefs are now in the lead of Group B with their third straight win, with Letran-A trailing after they won over University of the East, 58-53, for their second consecutive triumph.

In other games, Manuel L. Quezon University prevailed over the College of St. Benilde, 66-50, to hike their slate to 2-1 in Group A while Mapua (1-1) turned back Letran-B, 96-52.

The Warriors were ahead, 75-76, when Gumaru found his range in the dying seconds.

The Mariners leaned on a 12-0 blast in the start of the third, and this PMMS to pick their way out of a 25-all deficit.

The absence of Blue Eagle shooter CJ Perez surprised them, and they had little trouble in taking a 45-27 spread off Yagonia’s triple.

Vince Tolentino led with 11 points for the Blue Eagles, who now have a 4-1 slate in Group A.