MANILA, Philippines — Mapua needed a huge second-quarter salvo in taking the fight out of a hapless Arellano University early and hammering out a 79-65 victory yesterday to stay well entrenched at the helm of the NCAA Season 99 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
Skipper Warren Bonifacio and Clint Escamis did most of the job as they sparked that decisive second-quarter breakaway in lifting the Cardinals to their seventh win in eight outings and keeping their iron grip of the solo lead.
Bonifacio dropped a double-double effort with team-highs of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Escamis was at his multi-faceted best with nine points, nine boards, five assists and five steals.
“Sila mismo nag-lead at nag-pasahan kaya maganda tinakbo kanina,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara of the Bonifacio-Escamis tandem.
It was also Mapua’s most impressive win to date as it led by as many as 25 points late in the third canto.
“Ilang games na Arellano na talagang may tendency na kaya nila tambakan kalaban kaya palagi kami nagbilin na hindi pwede mag-relax, hindi puwede tignan standings kasi lahat pwede manalo sa mga line-up ngayon,” said Alcantara.
Alcantara saw in his team the same heart that his Mapua team had when he was still a player in their back-to-back championship run in 1990 and 1991, which turned out to be the school’s last crown.
“Konti lang big man namin noon, si Benny Cheng na nag-3 spot (small forward) sa PBA, siya sentro namin,” said Alcantara. “Pinakita namin noon malaki puso namin, na-witness ko kung gaano kalaki puso ni Benny Cheng na nagbigay ng championship namin nung 1991.”
“Malaki puso din nakita natin sa team na ito,” he added.
In the other duel, reigning three-peat champion Letran finally claimed its first win after seven straight defeats by blasting San Sebastian, 86-71.