MAPUA edged La Salle-Greenhills, 77-74, on Thursday to join San Beda as the league’s most successful high-school basketball team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
But the Red Robins had to teeter before hoisting the Season 94 trophy at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Paolo Hernandez exploded with a career-high 33 points he laced with seven triples, while Dan Arches uncorked 22, including all of his team’s six fourth-quarter points, to power the Red Robins to a 2-1 series triumph and their 22nd crown that tied them with the Red Cubs in terms of championships won.
“They really stepped up in this game,” said Mapua Coach Randy Alcantara of the prolific Hernandez-Arches duo.
The Junior Blazers knotted the count and looked to force overtime after Joshua David buried a three-pointer with half a second to go.
But officials nullified the shot after a video review that showed the ball was still in David’s hands when the final buzzer sounded.
That triggered a frantic Mapua celebration.
After the game, Alcantara announced it was his final game as coach of the Red Robins after 11 seasons. He was tasked take over Atoy Co as coach of the Cardinals.
“It was memorable because this will be my last game as a high-school coach,” said Alcantara, who has two titles in four finals appearances.
Joel Cagulangan, the league Most Valuable Player, hurt his ankle early in the game and finished with only 10 points.
But the Junior Blazers didn’t go out without a fight. They clawed back from 16 points down late in the third period to force a 74-all count with Inand Fornillos’s basket with less than two minutes remaining.
But Arches hit a free throw and a basket, and Mapua made key stops to seal the title.