To avoid a huge fall in expansion, Mapua leaned on a big Paolo Hernandez triple to win 65-59 against San Sebastian on Tuesday and put it in a three-way logjam at the top of Season 97 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Greenhills Gym in La Salle.
The Cardinals went on to win 3-0, tying inactive defending champions Latran and San Beda, and even the College of St. Benilde won the third game in a row after beating Emilio Aguinaldo 78-68 on the first day.
Mapua sat down with a 47-28 lead before the Stags came back and threatened 59-55, after JM Kalma Basket had gone in the final two minutes. Hernandez then canned that treaty for the Cardinals’ necessary breathing room.
Incidentally, Mapua and Latran will be separated on Friday.
“For us, it’s always about improving every game. That’s really our goal. Win or lose, we wanted to be good. We have to play hard in the end, “said Blazers coach Charles Tew.
In the second half, Robbie Naive reduced 14 of his 18 points as the Blazers sent their third defeat in four contests to the Generals with a 38-36 break from the slim.
Ralph Robin had 21 points and Jesse Luciano added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Generals.
The University of San Sebastian Arelano and the University of Perpetual Help System were tied 1-2 at Dalter. INQ
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