Cardinals clobber Knights for 4th straight win

Streaking Mapua claimed its fourth straight win after hacking out a 69-67 overtime win over Letran in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Monday.

The Cardinals extended their win streak to four for a 4-3 improvement in Group A.

“It was a grind it out and close game until the end but we’re thankful we had the breaks of the game,” coach Chito Victolero said.

“All the sacrifices and tough losses made us learn a lot. There was a reason why we lost in situations like those na panalo na, natatalo pa.”

Lance Nitura sank the biggest shot of the extra period when he buried a triple that gave the Cardinals the decisive 68-64 lead with 2:09 left in the game.

In regulation, Letran sat on the driver’s seat, 59-58, after a Justin Cargo layup at the 3:25 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals had several chances to take back the lead but they were unable to buy a bucket for over two minutes, urging them to foul Justine Hugo with 56.2 seconds remaining.

Hugo went perfect from the line to give the Knights a 61-58 advantage.

Ivan Lazarte took matters into his own hands and sank a bucket plus a foul with 52 ticks to go. He sank the freebie to tie the game at 61-all.

After a lengthy review later in crunch time, the Knights were given possession with 3.6 seconds remaining.

Cargo, however, fumbled the ball, sending the game to overtime.

Yam Concepcion paced Mapua with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win while Nitura, Cyrus Cuenco, Jamal Diaz and Lazarte all had 11 markers a piece as well.

Chad Gammad top scored for Letran with 18 points while Jimboy Estrada had 13 as the Knights tripped to a 4-3 card in Group B.