St. Joseph, Mapua pull off upsets in Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Unheralded St. Joseph College-Bulacan and Mapua pulled off upsets over their fancied rivals in the 10th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup Basketball tournament over the weekend.

Robert Manahan and Arvie Itulid combined for 44 points to power St. Joseph College-Bulacan to a 74-69 disposal of San Sebastian College at the Trinity University of Asia Gym while the Cardinals drubbed reigning Division 2 Cup champion Ateneo, 70-61, over at the Arellano U gym.

It was the first win for the Sta. Maria, Bulacan-based cagers after a 0-2 start in Group A.

For their part, the Cardinals turned to Joseph Eriobu who fired 11 of his 15 points in the final period en route to a 3-0 card in Group A.

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.

According to commissioner Robert de la Rosa, the top four finishers in the two brackets with make it to the quarterfinal round of the tourney supported by Twin Towers Bakery.