Red Warriors gun down Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion University of the East again leaned on its ace gunners in the endgame to repulse a game Mapua side, 85-78, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the 2009 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Paul Lee and James Martinez unloaded back-to-back triples to bail UE out of trouble in the final two minutes of the match after the Cardinals grabbed the lead for the last time on Erwin Cornejo’s banked triple, 78-76, just inside the final two-minute mark.

Lee, who had 16 points in the game, quickly answered with a triple of his own from top of the key, before Martinez scored his trey from the right flank to practically take the fight out of the Cards.

“I was surprised by Mapua’s game today. They were very tough, they played good defense at maganda ang teamwork nila. Bailout talaga yung tres nina Paul at James,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson.

The Cards indeed put up a brave front against the Warriors, as they kept the scores close for the first three quarters and up to the dying minutes of the game.

Allan Mangahas finished with 18 points for Mapua, including seven in the second quarter and five in the third, while Mark Acosta also had five in the third period as Mapua trailed by only a single point, 63-64, entering the fourth.

Martinez had 11 points, including eight in the fourth quarter after he was held scoreless in the third canto, while Narciso Llagas frolicked in the paint and finished with a team-high 18 points.

The Cardinals actually made it to the quarterfinals after the Blue Eagles decided to withdraw from the tournament.

The Filoil Flying V Sports management, meanwhile, has accepted the decision of Ateneo to withdraw from the tournament. The Blue Eagles completed their elimination campaign with a 5-2 card following an 80-71 loss to the San Beda Red Lions last Friday.

“We accept and respect Ateneo’s decision to withdraw from the tournament at this stage and we wish them well as they prepare for the coming UAAP season,” said Filoil Flying V Sports Chairman Mandy Ochoa.

San Beda’s win paved the way for an expected blockbuster of a quarterfinals match between the Red Lions and La Salle, which both finished with a 3-4 card, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.