THE defending champion Mapua Cardinals were ready for a tough grind against the Lyceum Pirates.
The Cardinals’ 90-89 double overtime win over the Pirates gave them the early lead on Wednesday at the start of the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
“In-expect na namin na ready ang Pirates sa amin,” said the 23-year-old Recto, one of the Cardinals’ veterans.
The 6’4″ Recto and Earl Sapasap shot 16 points apiece to lead the Cardinals past the Pirates in Group A action.
Recto scored six points in the final overtime period, with his jumper in the final 1:10 sending the contest into the second of three last deadlocks, 87-all.
Sapasap’s driving shot off Marc Cuenco’s assist found its mark with 1:02 left, giving the Cardinals enough room and time to move slightly out of reach.
Renz Villegas tallied 23 points for the Pirates, while Michael Verzosa added 19, with his jumper in the final 36 seconds, tying the count for a final time, 89-all.
Cuenco, who delivered 13 points, then split his charities with 12 ticks to go, keeping Mapua slightly in front.
The Pirates went for a final shot with five ticks to go, but the Cards took possession as time winded down, after Yam Concepcion grabbed a rebound off Lyon Palingayan’s miss.
The Cardinals will seek their second straight win when they play the Arellano Chiefs at 11 a.m. this Saturday at the Fil Eco Oil Arena in San Juan.
