By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM—Arellano needed overtime before taking down Mapua, 100-96, for its third straight NCAA win at the FilOil Flying V Arena on Friday night.
The Chiefs banked on a 7-0 run midway through the extension and withstood a late gallant stand by the Cardinals to move to solo third place in the team standings.
Arellano lost an 81-76 lead with 2:52 left in regulation as Mapua scored five straight points to tie the match, 81-all, with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.
Dioncee Holts failed to give the Chiefs as he missed on a field goal, but Michael Salado grabbed the offensive rebound and found Zach Nicholls for a wide-open triple to put them ahead, 84-81, with 22.4 seconds left in regulation.
Exe Biteng, however, quickly answered with a three-pointer of his own and equalized for the Cardinals with 16.7 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.
Allen Enriquez tried a baseline jumper on the other end, but he missed the jumper and Salado failed to release the follow-up before time expired, leading to the extra five minutes.
Nicholls opened the overtime session with a free throw, while Raf Raflores and Julius Cadavis exchanged shots afterward.
Holts extended the Chiefs' lead to three with two free throws, but Biteng made another three to tie the game anew, 89-all, with 3:09 remaining.
An open layup by Holts and five straight points from Salado put Arellano up for good, 96-89, with 1:25 left.
Josan Nimes kept Mapua in the game as he converted a quick layup to cut the lead to five, 96-91, with 1:17 to go, and his teammates forced an Arellano turnover to give then back the possession.
Nimes, however, had an accidental headbutt with Salado, and he was checked out after getting a cut in the head.
C.J. Isit, who replaced Nimes, only made a split from the line, and Mapua remained trailing, 92-96, with 1:12 left.
Jio Jalalon appeared to have sealed Arellano's win with a tough layup to stretch its lead to six with 42.4 seconds to go.
Isit, however, made a baseline jumper on the other end to bring the gap back to four, 98-94, with 34.6 seconds remaining.
Holts, after a quick Mapua foul, only made one of two charities from the stripe, and J.P Nieles made a long two with 24.1 seconds left to draw Mapua to within three, 96-99.
The Cardinals then went for a full-court press, but the Chiefs were able to maintain the ball and Jalalon finally iced the match with a free throw with 4.3 seconds left.
Jalalon, who tallied a triple-double in Arellano's win on Tuesday, finished with a game-high 26 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, while Holts had a season-high 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
Allwell Oraeme led Mapua, which fell to 1-3, with 18 markers, 17 boards, three blocks, and one steal.
Box Scores:
Arellano 100-Jalalon 26, Holts 25, Nicholls 16, Salado 12, Bangga 5, Gumaru 5, Cadavis 4, Tano 3, Enriquez 2, Meca 2, Ortega 0, De Guzman 0
Mapua 96-Oraeme 18, Nimes 17, Isit 13, Biteng 12, Raflores 12, Nieles 9, Stevens 5, Menina 4, Serrano 4, Aguirre 2, Villaseñor 0, Que 0, Layug 0
Quarterscores: 20-20, 36-38, 64-66, 84-84, 100-96
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