Cards' clutch shooter best of week

MANILA, Philippines - Benched for one game for disciplinary action, Allan Mangahas struck back with a pair of solid games to propel Mapua to solo third place in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

In two games last week, Mangahas piled up norms of 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals as he led the Cardinals to an 82-68 rout of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and a 65-63 overtime squeaker over the St. Benilde Blazers.

Those effort netted Mangahas the Accel/Filoil NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week honors.

More importantly, he helped steer the Cardinals to third with a 5-2 slate.

Defending champion San Sebastian and San Beda continue to pace the field with identical 6-0 marks.

“He’s really a clutch player,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero of Mangahas, the top rookie in 2008.

Mangahas highlighted an impressive week by hitting a crucial triple that shoved Mapua to a 63-61 lead over St. Benilde with a minute and a half to go.

That broke the backs of the Blazers.

Against the Generals, Mangahas dished out a superb all-around effort with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.