Games on Friday
(Filoil Centre)
10 a.m. – LPU vs EAC (Srs)
Noon – San Beda vs SSC-R (Jrs)
3 p.m. – LPU vs EAC (Srs)
5 p.m. – San Beda vs SSC-R (Srs)
ANSWERED prayer.
That’s how Yam Concepcion saw Mapúa University’s 69-55 victory over previously unbeaten Arellano University (AU) in an NCAA Season 102 duel on Thursday at the Filoil Centre where he delivered a performance to remember.
“We just kept on praying,” said Mr. Concepcion, whose career-best 22 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists propelled the Mapúa Cardinals to their second straight win after dropping their first three starts.
The slippery 6-3 bruiser was also at the heart of Mapúa’s almost impenetrable defensive fortress while helping shut down AU’s most lethal weapon in T-MC Ongotan to his season-low seven points after coming into the showdown averaging a league-high 21 points a game.
It was a memorable day for Mr. Concepcion, who was known as a defensive-minded player but on this one, he looked more as a scoring machine and was almost immaculate after he squeezed in 11 of the 15 shots he took.
In contrast, it was a forgettable stint for Mr. Ongotan, who had a hard time buying a basket as he was held to just 11 shots and missed nine of them, including three attempts from beyond the arc.
That nightmarish effort helped send the Arellano Chiefs back to earth where they screeched to their first defeat after seizing the Group B lead with four straight wins.
Mapúa just came in a different team on this one after that epic 55-54 upset of reigning titlist San Beda University last Monday that halted an alarming three-game slide.
Ivan Lazarte also came through and scattered 17 markers that he laced with a pair of booming triples. — Joey Villar
The scores:
Mapúa 69 – Concepcion 22, Lazarte 17, L. Nitura 9, Cuenco 7, Igliane 4, Diaz 3, M. Nitura 2, Liwanag 2, Dones 2, Razon 1, Ryan 0, Reyes 0
AU 55 – Abiera 13, Camay 10, Ongotan 7, Cabotaje 7, Flores 6, Hernal 3, Geronimo 3, Vinoya 2, Buenaventura 2, Borromeo 2, Langit 0, Manansala 0, Anama 0
Quarterscores: 19-15; 37-37; 53-44; 69-55