Mapua ousts San Beda, enters NCAA finals
MANILA – Mapua University Cardinals are back to the NCAA men’s basketball finals after 31 years following a 70-67 escape over San Beda University Red Lions in their do-or-die semis game on Wednesday night at the San Juan Arena.
Arvin Gamboa was huge off the bench for the Cardinals. He finished with double-double outing of 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with three blocks and two assists.
Brian Lacap also made his presence felt as he chipped in 13 markers while Paolo Hernandez was the other Mapua cager in twin digits with 11 markers.
The Cardinals will play in the NCAA men’s basketball Finals for the first time since a Benny Cheng buzzerbeater gave them a back-to-back crown way back in 1991.
It will be an all-Intramuros finale, as Mapua sealed a date with defending champion and powerhouse Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights in a bestof-three finale beginning on Sunday afternoon.
Down 66-67 with under a minute left, the Cardinals took the lead
Gamboa conversion before widening it to 70-67 on two pressure packed free throws by Toby Agustin.
The Red Lions had an opportunity to send the game into overtime, just like in their
73-67 Game 1 win last Sunday, but James Kwekuteye missed his triple attempt at the buzzer.
“Masaya ako na nakuha yung panalo sa San Beda,” said Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara, who steered Mapua to a 7-2 elimination round record to secure twice-to-beat over San Beda.
“Pero tulad ng sinasabi ko dati, nagtrabaho talaga ‘ yung mga players at kine- credit ko ito sa kanila. Hindi ganun kadali matalo ‘yung San Beda at tinrabaho nila ‘yung game nila na ito,” he added.
Yukien Andrada finished with a career- high 19 points while Kwekuteye and Peter Alfaro each had 11 points for San Beda, which failed to reach the NCAA Finals for the first time in 15 years./ PN