Warriors rip Blazers; Cards halt losing run

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East battled back from 22 points down to beat St. Benilde, 86-78, while Mapua leaned on a buzzer-beater by Allan Mangahas from way out for a 71-68 victory over National U in the Filoil Flying V Tanduay First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Paul Lee scored 31 points while Paul Zamar and James Martinez combined for 30 points as the Warriors overcame a slow start and a 6-28 deficit to turn back the Bulldogs and post their fourth win against two losses.

St. Benilde dropped to 0-3.

Mangahas, meanwhile, came through with a prayer of shot from midcourt with 4.7 seconds left, shattering the 68-all count and snapping the Cardinals’ three-game skid in the tournament presented by Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Total Phils. Corp., San Marino Corned Tuna, Accel, Filoil Gas Company, Flying V and Hanes brands, the official outfitter.

NU slid to 0-3.

Mapua coach Chito Victolero pointed out that his boys needed to execute their offense in the clutch since they have lost 8 of 12 games at endgame in the last NCAA season.

Gil Guillermo topscored for Mapua with 16 points while Mangahas wound up with nine points and Paul Cinco and Jonathan Banal had eight points apiece.

Ajeet Singh actually cracked under pressure down the stretch, missing the rear end of his charities in the last 4.7 seconds and setting up Mangahas for the game-winner. The Bulldogs also slid to 0-3.

Meanwhile, Nico Salva of Ateneo was named Accel Player of the Week for the period May 5-8. Salva, who had 19 points in the Eagles’ 114-90 rout over Letran and scored 17 in their victory over EAC,102-95, normed 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and one shot block during that period. – With report from Koji Echeminada