MAPUA averted an endgame collapse behind Justin Serrano and Laurenz Victoria to beat College of Saint Benilde, 86-83, on Tuesday and stay in the Final Four hunt in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Blowing a 15-point lead and trailing by two points, 70-72, with less than six minutes remaining, Serrano struck with six unanswered points before Victoria hit two huge baskets down the stretch to fend off the Blazers’ late uprising and lift the Cardinals to their fourth win against eight defeats.
Serrano finished with 12 points while Victoria had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Victoria drew praises from his coach, Atoy Co.
“He’s the most senior on the team that’s why I’m giving him all the confidence to shoot and make the plays when we need it,” said Co of Victoria.
It was another heartbreaking defeat by Saint Benilde, which suffered a 65-66 loss to San Sebastian College in a game that saw Justin Gutang’s potential game-winning and buzzer-beating basket nullified.
Interestingly, it was Gutang who willed the Blazers back from a 15-point hole to a 72-70 lead.
It turned out St. Benilde’s last show of force as Serrano and Victoria took charge to seal the deal.
Gutang finished with 22 points, 10 of which came in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Cardinals from slipping to a 7-5 (win-loss) mark.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza