NCAA: Cyrus Cuenco hits go-ahead 3 as Mapua escapes EAC to draw nearer to top spot

Cyrus Cuenco drains the game-winning three for Mapua. NCAA
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA––Another game, another game-winning three.

Barely three hours after Greg Cunanan won it for Lyceum from 22 feet out, it was Cyrus Cuenco's turn to go clutch from downtown as his late three gave Mapua an 82-79 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in their NCAA game on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Cuenco converted a pull-up three-pointer with 15.2 seconds left that broke the last deadlock of the game at 79-all.

King Gurtiza tried to send the game to overtime, but his own three-pointer just hit the front rim as time ran out.

Clint Escamis led the Cardinals, who moved up to 7-3, a half-game behind the College of St. Benilde Blazers for first place, with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

Cuenco and Chris Hubilla each added 16 markers.

Harvey Pagsanjan led the Generals, who fell to a tie with the Perpetual Help Altas for sixth place at 5-6, with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

The scores:

MAPÚA 82 – Escamis 23, Cuenco 16, Hubilla 16, Mangubat 10, Recto 7, Concepcion 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Agemenyi 0, Fermin 0, Pantaleon 0, Abdulla 0

EAC 79 – Pagsanjan 17, Gurtiza 14, Quinal 10, Bagay 8, Jacob 7, Oftana 6, Manacho 5, Lucero 4, Ochavo 2, Bacud 2, Luciano 2, Loristo 2, Postanes 0, Umpad 0, Devara 0

Quarterscores: 19-21, 46-44, 63-57, 82-79

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