Mapua escapes Hope's upset ax

MANILA, Philippines - Ariel Basas Jr. delivered the game-winning putback and helped Mapua salvage a 59-58 escape over Hope Christian High School at the start of the 4th FCBL Freego Cup at the Buddhacare Gym.

Basas picked up the missed attempt of Jayjay Alejandro then scored underneath to beat the buzzer and give the Red Robbins the pulsating win of the annual high school cagefest also supported by Talk ‘N Text.

Alejandro led all scorers with 29 points to bag the Freego Best Player of the Game honor.

Mapua led by seven points with three minutes left before Hope grabbed the lead, 58-55, 34 seconds remaining but Mapua scored the final four points of the game including Basas’s golden basket.

King Benemerito and Johnrey Garrido each had 12 points for Hope, which almost pulled the opening day upset of the tournament also being backed by Powerbest Mktg Inc., Colt Commercial, Old Chinatown Kopitiam, Mandarin Sky Seafood Shabu-Shabu Restaurant, Jumbo Plastic Linolium, Fresh Gear, Apple Tape and Happe Toothpaste.

In other games, defending champion San Beda walloped University of Perpetual Help, 82-67, while University of Santo Tomas defeated Jose Rizal University, 64-57.

Darrel Nazareno had 22 points to pace the Red Cubs, which led 43-29, and were never threatened since then. Joshua Diaz led the Baby Altas with 15 markers.

Joshua Almajeda led the undermanned Tiger Cubs with 15 while Alfred Cubilla and Paolo Florentin added 14 and 12 points respectively. Carlo Bueno had a game-high 24 points for the Light Bombers.