LSHG stuns Mapua five in Game 1

Game Thursday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 1 p.m. – La Salle-Greenhills vs Mapua (Game 2, Junior Blazers lead series 1-0)

Things continue to fall into place for resurgent La Salle-Greenhills.

Top guard Joel Cagulangan came up with a pair of crucial steals down the stretch as the Greenies stunned defending champion Mapua Red Robins, 74-68, yesterday to close in on the 93rd NCAA juniors basketball title at the SmartAraneta Coliseum.

The 5-foot-8 Cagulangan redeemed himself from a sluggish offensive performance as he chalked up back-to-back steals and set up his teammates for a pair of clutch lay-ups in a span of 15 seconds that enabled La Salle-Greenhills to keep Mapua at bay going to the final two minutes.

“Those are good decision-making from the help side,” said Greenies coach Marvin Bienvenida, tipping his hat to Cagulangan who made just seven of his 24 attempts from the field but still finished with 17 points on top of eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Joshua David backstopped Cagulangan with 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists while Joshua Marcos came off the bench and collected 15 points and eight rebounds to help fill up the shoes left by top LSGH forward Inand Fornillos, who was ejected midway in the third canto due to a disqualifying foul (closed fist) against Mapua counterpart Will Gozum.

Fornillos, who tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, could be suspended on Thursday when the fourth-seeded Greenies try to dethrone the top-ranked Red Robins and clinch their first crown since joining the league in 1998.

“We’re hoping Inand could play,” said Bienvenida, keeping his fingers crossed. “But we’re expecting the worst. I’m sure Mapua will bounce back. We just have to be ready for that.”