Mapua University head coach Chito Victolero remains upbeat despite the Cardinals’ stinging 64-65 loss to Jose Rizal University in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament last Monday.

Returning to the Grand Old League for the first time since 2012, Victolero said the breaks simply did not go Mapua’s way, but he was pleased with how his players pushed the Heavy Bombers to the limit despite entering the season with tempered expectations.

Cyrus Nitura led the Cardinals with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

“I’m still proud of my players. I mean, the only thing that we need is the opportunity to win. That’s the only request I have for them,” Victolero said.

“We need to battle for possessions, we need to battle defensively, and we need to execute on offense. But overall, it was a great game for us.”

Victolero rued Mapua’s poor shooting from the free-throw line, where the Cardinals went just 16-of-38.

“We missed 22 free throws. I told them, even if only one of those 22 went in, I think we would have had a good chance of winning the game,” Victolero said.

“But of course, it happened. Hopefully, as I said, we learn from this one. It was our first game, so we have a lot of things to improve.”

The Cardinals will have nearly a week to regroup before returning to action against Lyceum of the Philippines University on Monday at 3 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Victolero said Mapua’s goal is to steadily build one of the league’s toughest defensive units as the season progresses.

“Yeah, it was a defensive battle. From start to finish, it was full of energy and aggressiveness,” he said.

“We want to be the No. 1 team in terms of defense. Hopefully, during the season, or in the course of the season, we can improve.”