The Mapua Cardinals continued their rise as they climbed up to fourth spot bumping out Lyceum Pirates, 80-59, today in the NCAA Season 87 at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
Fil-Aussie Josan Nimes waxed hot early on as he poured 12 of his 20 points in the first quarter while rookie big man Yousef Taha put the finishing touches in Mapua’s fourth straight win.
Taha finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds anchoring the Cardinals’ stone-walled defense against every Pirates’ fightback, who came closest at 44-35 early in the third period.
The Cardinals climbed to .500 for the first time at 6-6 after opening the season with four straight losses.
The Pirates played without Floricel Guevarra and Onofre Napiza, who served their respective one-game suspensions for separate infractions.
Lyceum dropped to fifth place with their sixth setback against five wins. - Alder Almo