Mapua shoots down USC to grab Mayor’s Cup title
The Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals fought with grace under pressure to escape with an 83-80 victory over the University of San Carlos Warriors in their sudden-death final match to clinch the championship of the five-day 2015 Cebu City Mayor's Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament the other night at the USC-Main gym. Nimes, one of the most consistent scorers for the Cardinals leading to his selection as tournament MVP, coverted a tie-breaking free throws, 82-80, but could not put the game away after missing two more attempts in his return trip to the foul line. It was, however, C.J.
Is it's split charities with 9.1 seconds left in the contest that sealed the deal for the visiting NCA squad under the command of coach Atoy Co.
The Warriors actually had a chance to forge an overtime, but Victor Rabat missed his closely contested three-point try. The loose ball was picked up by the Cardinals, who then celebrated at the midcourt as the gameclock expired.
It was actually a wasted opportunity for the Warriors, who led by as much as 11 points, 39-28, on Rabat's triple late in the second period.
Silently though, former Warrior Stephen Que brought heavy damage to his old team by scoring seven straight points capped by a buzzer-beating triple that gave Mapua a 4946 lead at halftime.
Que went on to finish with 17 points as Nimes topscored for the Cardinals with 21 markers. Isit chipped in 16.
The Warriors were led by Ian Tagapan with 18 points. Rabat and Charles Pepito each scored 16, but Shooster Olago could only nail 13 points in a losing effort.
All the participating teams received trophies from the organizers led by Cebu City Sports Commissioner commissioner Lorenzo "Chao" Sy.
THE SCORES
Mapua (83) — Nimes 21, Que 17, Isit 16, Oraeme 10, Braga 9, Dela Rosa 4, Nieles 4, Biteng 2
USC (80) — Tagapan 18, Rabat 16, Pepito 16, Olago 13, Lim 6, Ortega 4, Maconocido 4, Magat 2, Laguyo 1