Mapua deals UP second straight Filoil loss

MANILA, Philippines -- The Mapua Cardinals survived a furious endgame rally by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to win their first match of the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup. 

Mapua led, 75-67, after a gutsy Lawrence Victoria floater over UP center Bright Akhuetie with 1:03 left in the game. However, the Fighting Maroons found some life after Juan Gomez De Liaño knocked down two consecutive triples, to slice the deficit to two, 75-73, with 24 seconds left. 

Then the Cardinals’ Exie Biteng scored on a broken play and Eric Jabel hit two free throws to give Mapua some cushion in the face of a withering rally by UP. Bright Akhuetie scored on a three-point play with no time left to close out the scoring. 

Mapua led for much of the game. And like La Salle during the opening day of the tournament, they made life miserable for Akhuetie, throwing him single, double, and at time triple coverage. 

In spite of the tough and physical defense on him, the Nigerian center  scored 30 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Paul desiderio added 13 while Juan Gomez de Liaño chipped in 12, including three triples. 

Mapua also got a superb scoring effort from Exie Biteng, Eric Jabel, and Lawrence Victoria who scored 19, 13, and 12 points respectively. 

“It’s the effort,” said a happy Mapua head coach Atoy Co. “Ang importante talaga sa amin ay to play team defense. We cannot afford to play one-on-one. I am very glad to prove that we have a chance of winning even if we don’t have any imports.” 

The Cardinals got some motivation by playing all-Filipino especially against a team with Gilas players. “Meron sila (UP) mga Gilas players,” admitted Cardinal swingman Lawrence Victoria. “Gusto namin ipakita na pag nasa court pantay lang kami.” 

The game was also some form of grudge match as Atoy Co’s lads faced a familiar face in Will Gozum, who played for the Mapua Red Robins for his senior high school and led them to a NCAA Juniors championship in the NCAA two seasons ago.

“Inalagaan ko yan si Will. Sabi ko lang may utang pa siya sa akin,” joked Co, who also privately wished that Gozum stayed home in Intramuros. 

Gozum though did play for the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons then joined Mapua for his senior high school years helping them to back-to-back juniors finals finishes. 

Gozum got into a near scrum with his former teammates early in the fourth quarter. He was assessed a technical foul along with former high school teammate Jasper Salenga for trash talking. 

Mapua assistant head coach Randy Alcantara also expressed pride that Mapua fielded a mostly homegrown squad. Players who came up from the juniors ranks include Jabel, Victoria, Justin Serrano, Salenga, Warren Bonifacio, Noah Lugo, Daniel Aguirre and Joaqui Garcia.

“Iba rin yung homegrown pride,” noted Alcantara. 

For his part, UP head coach Bo Perasol remained upbeat despite his team’s early tournament pitfalls. 

“This is why we play the preseason. And we need more games like this.”