In his first three games, Filipino-Canadian shooting guard Zach Nicholls merely played a limited role for his team. Tonight, he just shot the lights out.

(FCF / Martin San Diego)

Nicholls fired played consistently in both defense and offense and fired 18 points off five three-pointers to help the Arellano University Chiefs win its second game, thumping the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals, 65-59, in tonight’s second game in NCAA men’s basketball action.

Down by three, 51-54, midway in the fourth quarter Nicholls swished a corner trey to tie the game, and swished another one from top of the point tie the game for a second time in the quarter, 57-57.

The Chiefs ultimately drubbed the Cardinals for good, as center Prince Caperal banked an undergoal stab off a pass from Nichole Bangga, while starting point guard John Pinto sank a sensational 15-foot jumper off a head-and-shoulder fake against Cardinal Andrew Estrella.

“I got my rhythm after I sank my first shot,” Nicholls said in a post-game interview. “My job is simply to find my space on the floor and hit the open shot, as well as to defend the wing.”

Nicholls shot his season high off an accurate 5-of-8 from beyond the arc to lead the Chiefs (2-2), while Pinto bounced back from an erratic game against San Beda to chip in ten points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

The Cardinals (1-3) were led by Kenneth Ighalo who tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals.

BOX SCORES
ARELLANO (65): Nicholls 18, Pinto 10, Forrester 7, Jalalon 6, Hernandez 6, Caperal 5, Salcedo 5, Agovida 4, Bangga 4, Gumaru 0, Cadavis 0, Enriquez 0
MAPUA (59): Ighalo 14, Brana 9, Eriobu 9, Magsigay 9, Saitanan 7, Estrella 6, Isit 4, Cantos 1, Layug 0, Gabo 0
QUARTERS: 20-10, 32-28, 46-41, 65-59