NEXT MAN CUP: MAPUA BLASTS UE, GETS SOLO LEAD

Mapua continued its sizzling start to its Pinoyliga Next Man cUP campaign, after blasting UE, 86-66 at the Activate Hoop Arena last January 16.

Another routine third period put the Cardinals’ B-Team into a 2-0 record and a sole possession of the lead in the team standings, as it dispatched another UAAP foe to sweep their weekend schedule.

Toby Agustin led all scorers for the second straight game, firing in 18 points despite only hitting 5/14 from the field, which was attributed to his 1/8 clip from beyond the arc, and added 7 rebounds to his line.

Ferdinand Asuncion quickly recovered from his atrocious performance against Ateneo, backstopping Agustin with 15 points, hitting all but one of his six shots while being perfect from rainbow territory.

Apart from the duo, balanced scoring was the key as John Kobe Dalisay, Clint Escamis and Angelo Pariñas pitched in 12, and 10 apiece, respectively.

What was more astonishing is how the former Red Warrior had fared against his former team, with the playmaker added 5 assists and 4 steals to his line.

Mapua actually trailed by three at the end of the opening period, but gradually turned it around when they lead by eight at the half.

But the turning point came after the break, in which they pulled away with a huge 11-0 run, just after the second squad of the Red Warriors have halved their halftime deficit to just four at the early stages of the third.

Dei Tomas had 17 for UE, who fell to 1-2 after losing consecutive games.

The scores:

MAPUA 86 – Agustin 18, Asuncion 15, Dalisay 12, Escamis 10, Pariñas 10, Cuenco 7, Soriano 6, Sabsalon 6, Igliane 2, Caballero 0
UE 66 – Tomas 17, Maglupay 14, Wilson 12, Lingolingo 7, Maxie 6, De Leon 2, Soriano 2, Cabalo 2, Cabero 2, Alcantara 1, Manalang 1
Quarter scores: 13-16, 40-32, 66-49, 86-66