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| Lawrence Mangubat celebrates after scoring the game-winner for Mapua. NCAA |
MANILA––Lawrence Mangubat saved the day for Mapua as he scored the game-winner in a 69-68 escape against Lyceum in a crucial NCAA clash on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Mangubat hit a three-pointer with 4.5 seconds left that gave the Cardinals the lead back after the Pirates, down 40-54 after the third quarter, took charge for most of the fourth quarter to go up, 68-66.
Jonathan Daileg tried to complete Lyceum's comeback, but he missed a baseline jumper from the left side as time expired.
Mangubat, who also hit a tough long two from the right corner before his game-winner, showed maturity despite being a rookie as he led the Cardinals, now at 11-3, with 16 points, going 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, five rebounds, and two assists.
Fellow first-year guy Chris Hubilla added 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal as they are now a half-game behind the College of St. Benilde Blazers (11-2) in the race for the top spot.
With Lyceum falling to its eighth loss of the season plus the assurance that someone from Letran and Emilio Aguinaldo College will also drop to eight defeats in their clash on Wednesday, CSB and Mapua officially booked their tickets to the Final Four.
Renz Villegas put up 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the Pirates, who dropped to a tie with the Perpetual Help Altas for sixth place at 6-8, one game behind the Letran Knights for fourth place.
The scores:
MAPÚA 69 – Mangubat 16, Hubilla 14, Cuenco 11, Escamis 10, Concepcion 6, Igliane 4, Recto 4, Jabonete 2, Ryan 2, Abdulla 0, Bancale 0, Garcia 0
LYCEUM 68 РVillegas 22, Monta̱o 9, Cunanan 8, Aviles 7, Daileg 7, Guada̱a 5, Barba 5, Pe̱afiel 3, Versoza 2, Caduyac 0, Moralejo 0
Quarterscores: 18-12, 28-25, 54-40, 69-68
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