Cardinals too much for Chiefs

Mapua continued its winning ways and sealed its fifth straight victory with a 79-65 win over Arellano in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Warren Bonifacio, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, spearheaded the 18-8 spurt for the Cardinals which hiked the lead to 25 points, 63-38, going to the final period.

JC Recto and Kobe Dalisay backstopped Bonifacio with 12 points apiece.

Clint Escamis was on his usual all-around performance of nine points, nine rebounds, five assists, and five steals as Mapua climbed atop the standings with a 7-1 record.

Bonifacio and Escamis lit up a 17-4 blitz that shattered the deadlock at 26 and erecting a 43-30 upper hand at halftime.

That was all the Cardinals needed in quashing the last hopes out of the Chiefs, who dropped to 1-7.

For Escamis, he is happy that he is being mentioned in MVP conversations but stressed he is more focused on helping his squad make the Final Four and win the championship.

“My main goal is the Final Four and championship talaga,” said Escamis.

Jade Talampas and Lars Sunga connived in the final frame to give Arellano some window of hope, but their efforts were not enough as the Intramuros-based squad maintained the double-digit cushion until the final horn.

Sunga scored 16 points while Recto and Dalisay added 10 and eight points, respectively.

— Mark Rey Montejo