Cardinals nip Pirates, move closer to Final Four

MANILA, Philippines -- Mapua went to other sources when Nigerian Allwell Oraeme fouled out and coach Atoy Co was tossed out as it turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 70-66, Friday to move a step closer to crashing into the magic four in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament.

Justin Serrano and JP Nieles scored five points apiece in the fourth quarter to help the Cardinals weather a late storm and come out with an eighth victory against five defeats, which was good for fifth spot.

Serrano and Nieles wound up scoring 15 and 10 points, respectively, while drawing praises from their coach.

"They made the big shots when Allwell (Oraeme) fouled out. They bailed us out," said Co of Serrano and Nieles.

The Oraeme committed his fifth and last foul when he banged into Lyceum's Cameroonian reinforcement Jean Victor Nguidjol in a rebound scuffle with 6.10 minutes remaining in the game.

Co complained there was no foul on Oraeme, eliciting a technical foul from the referees that led to his ejection.
The Pirates fell to 3-11.

Earlier, Jose Rizal overpowered a hapless Emilio Aguinaldo College, 87-64, to breathe some life to its waning Final Four hopes.

John Pontejos led all scorers with 21 points while Bernabe Teodor and John Grospe scattered 13 apiece but it was Mark Cruz 11 first quarter points that sparked the decisive run as the Bombers nailed their seventh win against six defeats to stay in the semis hunt.

"We have no choice but to win all our games and not look at the results of the teams ahead of us that much," said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses.

Cruz was the spark plug in Jose Rizal's opening quarter breakaway, unleashing an 11-point barrage that saw it roar to a 25-7 lead.

It was Pontejos' turn to light up another blistering attack that the saw the Bombers zap the last fight out of the Generals, who sank deeper down the standings with a league-worst 2-11 (win-loss) record.

In juniors' action, Sherwin Concepcion came through with 33 points and 12 rebounds as the Mapua Red Robins clobber the Lycceum Junior Pirates, 85-63, to stay at No. 2 with a 12-1 record.

The EAC Brigadiers, for their part, slammed the Jose Rizal Light Bombers, 93-69, to snare their seventh win against six setbacks.

The scores:

First Game

Jose Rizal 87- Pontejos 21, Teodoro 13, Grospe 13, Cruz 11, Dela Paz 7, Estrella 6, Astilla 4, Abdul Wahab 4, Sanchez 3, Lasquety 2, Poutouochi 1, Balagtas 0, dela Virgen 0

EAC 64- Onwubere 21, Hamadou 10, Munbsayac 9, Mejos 8, Bonleon 7, Pascual 5, Corilla 2, Estacio 2, Pascua 0, General 0, Diego 0

25-7; 42-23; 68-48; 68-48; 87-64

Second Game

Mapua 70- Serrano 15, Nieles 10, Brana 10, Oraeme 8, Menina 8, Isit 6, Que 6, Biteng 5, Aguirre 2, Layug 0, Raflores 0

Lyceum 66- Gabayni 21, Baltazar 14, Nguidjol 12, Ayaay 8, Marata 3, Bulawan 3, Malabanan 2, Soliman 2, Sunga 1, Mbida 0, Lugo 0

Quarterscores: 25-12; 37-25; 58-45; 70-66