Double trouble: Mapua’s Cuenco, Lyceum’s Cunanan drill game-winners in thriller slate

MANILA, Philippines – Muralla Street in Manila lighted up in celebration on Tuesday, October 15, as neighboring universities Mapua and Lyceum celebrated identical, nail-biting wins in the continuation of the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

The second-ranked Cardinals escaped by way of a Cyrus Cuenco jumper with 15.2 seconds left and outlasted fringe contenders EAC Generals, 82-79, for an 8-3 record just behind 8-2 College of St. Benilde.

The Pirates, meanwhile, pulled off a 64-62 heist over defending champion San Beda thanks to a Greg Cunanan go-ahead triple in the final 8.6 seconds to clinch a 6-5 slate and snap the Red Lions’ four-game winning streak.

Reigning MVP Clint Escamis led Mapua’s second straight win with a game-high 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in nearly 35 minutes of action, while Cuenco pitched 16 points in a heroic performance, tying teammate big man Chris Hubilla’s total.

EAC’s one-two punch Harvey Pagsanjan and King Gurtiza, meanwhile, paced the Generals’ descent to a 5-6 record in a sixth-place tie with Perpetual with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

In the double-header’s curtain-raiser, Gyle Montano led Lyceum the nip-and-tuck affair with 12 points, followed by 11 from game-saver Cunanan to help earn a fourth-place tie alongside Letran, another Muralla resident.

The Pirates essentially caught a lucky break in the win as league-leading scorer John Barba disappeared with just 4 points, all off free throws, on a putrid 0-of-11 shooting slump to go with 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes.

Bismarck Lina, meanwhile, was San Beda’s lone bright spot in the heartbreaking setback with a 12-point, 8-board line, a promising follow-up to his 20-point, 7-rebound eruption last game against Arellano.

Red Lions leaders Yukien Andrada and Bryan Sajonia likewise caught Barba’s case of cold hands in the loss, combining for just 19 points on a 6-of-26 total clip as they slid down a 7-4 record still in third place just above Lyceum and Letran.

The Scores

First Game

Lyceum 64 – Montaño 12, Cunanan 11, Bravo 9, Daileg 7, Villegas 6, Aviles 5, Barba 4, Peñafiel 4, Panelo 2, Versoza 2, Gordon 2, Moralejo 0, Pallingayan 0.

San Beda 62 – Lina 12, Andrada 11, Puno 10, Sajonia 8, Estacio 8, Payosing 6, Tagle 5, Songcuya 2, Gonzales 0, Celzo 0, RC Calimag 0, Royo 0.

Quarters: 12-20, 31-32, 44-44, 64-62.

Second Game

Mapua 82 – Escamis 23, Cuenco 16, Hubilla 16, Mangubat 10, Recto 7, Concepcion 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Agemenyi 0, Fermin 0, Pantaleon 0, Abdulla 0.

EAC 79 – Pagsanjan 17, Gurtiza 14, Quinal 10, Bagay 8, Jacob 7, Oftana 6, Manacho 5, Lucero 4, Ochavo 2, Bacud 2, Luciano 2, Loristo 2, Postanes 0, Umpad 0, Devara 0.

Quarters: 19-21, 46-44, 63-57, 82-79.

– Rappler.com