MANILA — Mapua University surged in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball standings after narrowly defeating Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), 82-79, in a thrilling Round 2 matchup on Tuesday at the San Juan Arena.
Marc Cuenco sealed the victory for the Cardinals with a clutch three-pointer, capping off his impressive stat line of 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis also played a key role with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
“It was another tough game, but we expected that. Every game is a challenge, so we need to stay composed and push harder,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara after the game.
“If you can’t score, you need to keep pressing on defense. Cuenco stepped up, and it just so happened that a veteran like Cyrus made the shot, and fortunately, he hit his crucial free throws.”
With the game tied at 79, Cuenco delivered a pull-up three with just 15 seconds remaining.
EAC had a chance to equalize, but Mapua’s defense forced King Gurtiza to miss a contested three-point shot in the final moments.
Gurtiza finished with 14 points, while Harvey Pagsanjan led EAC with 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The Generals now sit at 5-6, missing the opportunity to tie Lyceum and Letran, who hold 6-5 records.