Cardinals turn back Bombers in double OT

MANILA, Philippines - Mapua bungled a 10-point fourth quarter lead but salvaged an 89-85 double overtime victory over Jose Rizal University in the 2011 Filoil Flying V Hanes Pre-season Premier Cup at the Arena.

Fil-Palestinian Yousef Taha swished in a shot stab and Jonathan Banal canned two free throws off Jeckster Apinan’s fifth foul with 29.2 seconds left in the second extra period as the Cardinals notched their second straight win for a 3-1 record overall.

The Cardinals appeared on their way to cruising to the triumph when they took a 71-61 lead with 6:30 left. But the resilient Heavy Bombers to force the first extension at 75.

In other Group B action, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) demolished College of St. Benilde, 88-75, to improve to 2-4.

Franz Chiong normed 22 points and seven assists while Claude Gubo made a double-double (15 points and 12 boards) as the Generals arrested a two-game slide.

The Blazers (0-6) were led by Carlo Lastimosa’s 16 and Luis Sinco’s 12.

“We have to give credit to JRU, too, they have the character to come back. The boys however, pulled through in the end,” said MIT coach Chito Victolero, whose team followed up its 80-62 rout of Letran last week.

Veteran Allan Mangahas led the way for Mapua with 24 points and four assists followed by Banal with 18 points and two steals. Six-foot-seven Taha was again a pillar of strength inside, banging in 15 points and grabbing a monstrous 23 rebounds along with two assists and two blocks but had nine turnovers in 38 minutes of action.

Nate Matute shot 18, highlighted by three triples out of 18 tries, and Apinan had 17 points and 15 boards for JRU, which absorbed its third straight loss for 2-4 in Group B.

The Bombers jumped the gun in the first OT, seizing an 82-78 lead at the 2:25 mark on John Villarias’ third trey of the day. Kenneth Ighalo and Banal, though, came to MIT’s rescue with a putback and a layup off a steal, respectively, to knot the count.