New Era University mde a big ‘statement game’ as it scored a thrilling 81-79 win over NCAA champion Mapua University at the start of the Pinoyliga Next Man cUP Season 3 last Saturday, February 1 at the Enderun Colleges Gym in Taguig City.
With the score tied at 79-all with 14 seconds left, Jomark Labio scored on a game-winning basket with four seconds to go that helped the Hunters beat the Cardinals.
Tristan Tolentino led New Era with 19 points, while Toritseju Adam and Labio each added 11 points and each with five rebounds.
Cyril Gonzales had 19 points and eight boards for Mapua, while Drex de los Reyes and Ivan Lazarte chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Mapua is coming off a magical run in the NCAA Season 100 as it bagged the men’s basketball championship last December 7, 2024 following a 2-0 sweep on College of St. Benilde in the best-of-three series.
It was the sixth NCAA championship for the Cardinals, and first in 33 years or since the Intramuros-based school won back-to-back in 1990 and 1991 seasons.
This is a tournament where participating teams give chance to their players from Team B or even those still serving residency to display their skills before they move them up to the main team.
Mapua coach Randy Alcantara said that the tournament is an opportunity for them not just to look at potential players but also a chance for them to prepare early for the NCAA Season 101 since they will be missing two graduating players in guard Joaqui Garcia and forward Aaron Fermin.
“This gives us a head start and look at the players we may move up to Team A. We’ll have two open spots, but it doesn’t mean that our holdovers, who are part of the champion team, that they’re assured of a spot becuase we have at least five players who are really capable of helping us next season,” said Alcantara, who is part of the 1990 and 1991 NCAA champion Mapua.
“We’ll definitely go all out in this tournament. We want the players to take this seriously because we’ll look at their performance,” added Alcantara, who considers Gonzales, Lazarte, de los Reyes, Joemakio Gulapa and Marcus Nitura as possible activation for Team A.
A total of 15 teams are in the Next Man cUP and they are divided to two groups.
Prime group will have Mapua, De La Salle University, Ateneo, LPU and St. Dominic College of Asia, while in the Edge group are UAAP champion University of the Philippines, San Beda, Lycuem, Enderun, Guang Ming and Next Man cUP Season 2 champion College of St. Benilde.
The tournament is presented by Shawarma Shack and backed by Smart, Kick-Start Coffee, Amelie Hotel, Eastern Communications, LGR, Enderun Colleges and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, with tournament director Benny Benitez of Prime Edge Marketing Consultancy and Pinoyliga.com.
Games Saturday (Enderun Gym)
2 p.m. – San Beda vs Enderun
4 p.m. – Lyceum vs Guang Ming
6 p.m. – Mapua vs New Era