St. Joseph, Mapua pull off stunners in Fr. Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Unheralded St. Joseph College-Bulacan joined the Mapua Cardinals in scoring upsets over the weekend in the 10th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup Basketball tournament.

Robert Manahan and Arvie Itulid showed the way for St. Joseph College-Bulacan as they waylaid the San Sebastian College-A Stags, 74-69, last Sunday at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.

Manahan and Itulid fired 24 and 20 points for the Sta. Maria, Bulacan-based cagers, who picked up their first win in three matches in Group A.

On the other hand, Joseph Eriobu tallied 15 points for the Mapua Cardinals, who upset the reigning Division 2 Cup champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, 70-61, last Saturday over at the Arellano University gym in Legarda, Manila.

The Cardinals, with Eriobu scoring 11 in the final period, went on to claim their third straight triumph in Group A.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said the top four finishers in the two brackets with make it to the quarterfinal round of this cagefest, which is supported by Twin Towers Bakery.

In other games, Joseph Gabayni and Aziz Mbomiko drilled in 19 and 17 points for the Lyceum Philippines University-A Pirates, (2-1), as they won over Jose Rizal University-A, 72-59.

JRU-B, behind Philip Paniamogan with 24 points, stopped LPU-B, 84-64.

Jaymar Perez hacked out 15 points for San Sebastian College-A as they prevailed over the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 54-53.

In the women’s side, La Salle blasted University of the East, 73-63.