by Kevin Estrada

PASAY CITY – Mapúa had put their title defense back on track after stifling Emilio Aguinaldo College, 85-78 as the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball tournament returns to the  Mall of Asia Arena Tuesday afternoon.

The Cardinals banked on the return to form of senior guard Clint Escamis as they finally snapped their three-game losing skid, all of which came against Group B opposition at the Generals’ expense in this crossover encounter.

After being held to a combined 18 points in their setbacks to San Beda, JRU and Letran, Escamis led all scorers with 20 points in a decent shooting display, knocking down 7/15 (47%) from the field with four other Cardinals in double figures.

Cyril Gonzales then had 14, Yam Concepcion then hit for 13, and lastly JC Recto and Earl Sapasap scored 11 and 10, respectively.

A relieved Randy Alcantara was pleased to see the total team effort in their first win in sixteen days, in which they won the battle of the boards by out-rebounding the Generals by six (47-41).

“Yung lineup na ito, everybody can shoot,” he said after the game, in which the players held a meeting on their own during the horrid streak. “Willing naman [sila] mag-sacrifice ng points and play hard defense.”

Brianne Angeles stepped up in Wilmar Oftana’s absence, as he had 13 for EAC which fell to 4-5 and at the bottom of group B.

The scores:

MAPÚA 85 – Escamis 20, Gonzales 14, Concepcion 13, Recto 11, Sapasap 10, Igliane 6, Cuenco 5, Nitura 2, Delos Reyes 2, Callangan 2, Ryan 0, Lazarte 0

EAC 78 – Angeles 13, Bagay 12, Lucero 11, Castillo 10, Quinal 5, Doria 5, Shanoda 4, Postanes 4, Tolentino 4, Omandac 3, Bacud 3, Loristo 2, Villarente 2, Ochavo 0, Dominguez 0

Quarter scores: 21-23, 48-44, 69-63, 85-78

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