Mapua shocks Ateneo in Freego

MANILA, Philippines - Mapua streaked to its second straight win by stunning UAAP champion Ateneo, 78-74, even as Hope Christian High School bounced back with a thrilling 74-71 overtime win over Far Eastern University in the recent fourth FCBL Freego Cup at the Buddhacare Gym.

Jay Alejandro starred anew for the Red Robins as he knocked in 17 of his 40 points in the payoff period highlighted by three straight triples to power the Intramuros-based squad to its second straight victory in the event presented by Freego Jeans and supported by Talk ‘N Text.

The Blue Eagles appeared headed for a runaway win when they took a commanding 14-point lead in the third quarter but Alejandro went on a scoring rampage to turn the game around and win the Freego Player of the Game award for the second straight time.

FEU’s Jerry Pinggy sent the game into overtime but Hope Christian leaned on the heroics of Errol Villar and Clint Doliguez to register its first win in two games in the event also backed by Powerbest Mktg Inc., Colt Commercial, Old Chinatown Kopitiam, Mandarin Sky Seafood Shabu-Shabu Restaurant, Jumbo Plastic Linolium, Fresh Gear, Apple Tape and Hapee Toothpaste.

The Red Robins’ victory over the Blue Eaglets underscored their readiness to shed the ugly tag as NCAA’s “whipping boys.”

In other games, National University improved its record to 2-1 following its 78-69 win over multi-titled Xavier School while University of Perpetual Help Dalta System crushed University of Santo Tomas, 89-72.

Paul Baliton led three other NU players in double figures to emerge as the Freego Player of the Game – the same award also won by Villar and UPHDS’s Joshua Diaz.

Jeron Teng had 30 points for Xavier but his efforts went down the drain – no thanks to NU’s pesky defense in the last quarter.