In the final week of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball eliminations, Mapúa survived an overtime thriller on November 18, while Shawn Umali delivered a career-high performance to lead Benilde to a victory at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Yam Concepcion and Clint Escamis Gives Mapúa the OT Win
The Cardinals, who once held a 19-point lead, were forced to dig deep as the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags mounted a fierce comeback that sent the contest into an extra period.
Mapúa started strong, seizing control early in the third quarter when Clint Escamis completed a three-point play to stretch their lead to 49–30.
But the Golden Stags refused to fold. Rookie standout Jhuniel Dela Rama, who had been held scoreless from the field in the first half, jump-started a 17–3 run that cut the Cardinals’ lead to 52–47 entering the fourth.
Escamis opened the final quarter by scoring six straight points before Cyrus Cuenco drilled a timely triple that pushed the advantage to 65–58. San Sebastian, however, continued to claw back. Dela Rama knocked down a deep corner shot that triggered a lengthy review to determine whether it was a two or a three.
Officials eventually ruled it a three-pointer, leveling the score at 65 and forcing overtime.
San Sebastian briefly took control in the extra frame after a bucket from Jose Lumanag made it 69–66, but Mapúa answered through Earl Sapasap, who strung together six straight points, which included two free throws off an unsportsmanlike foul for him to put the Cardinals ahead, 72–69.
Lumanag then responded with an and-one to tie things up once more, setting up a dramatic finish.
With 24 seconds remaining, Yam Concepcion, known primarily for his interior defense, knocked down his first and only triple of the game off a Sapasap assist, giving Mapúa a 75–72 edge.
San Sebastian missed its next two attempts, allowing Cuenco to sink two insurance free throws that sealed the victory in overtime.
FINAL SCORE: MAPUA CARDINALS 77 – 72 SAN SEBASTIAN STAGS
Cuenco led the Cardinals with 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals, followed by Sapasap’s 11 points, five assists, and two steals, and Escamis’ 14 markers, five boards, and three assists.
Concepcion came close to an all-around outing with eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
The win improved Mapúa’s record to 7–5, marking their third straight victory and placing them within striking distance of a twice-to-beat edge in Group A.
San Sebastian, now 3–10, was led by Andre Lumanag’s 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Dela Rama contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist, while Reggz Gabat added 11 in the loss.
Shawn Umali Showcases Best Collegiate Game of His Career
The first half belonged to Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, which built a narrow lead behind the scoring of Shawn Argente and Ivan Panapanaan, heading into halftime ahead 38–35.
Benilde, last season’s runner-up to Mapúa University, struggled to find its rhythm early but relied on Umali to spark a third-quarter surge. The burly forward scored the first five points of the period, giving the Blazers their first lead at 40–38.
JRU responded with a 16–4 run, capped by an Argente three-pointer and a string of free throws, reclaiming a 58–56 advantage.
As the fourth quarter began, momentum swung decisively in favor of the Blazers.
Jhommel Ancheta opened the period with a jumper and later drilled a key triple to create a 70–60 lead with just over four minutes left. Trailing by a point, Benilde then launched a critical 10–0 run, with baskets from Mowell Morales, Umali, Justine Sanchez, and Ancheta, seizing control of the game.
Umali added four of the final six points for the Blazers, cementing the victory and marking their back-to-back wins and fourth triumph in five games.
FINAL SCORE: CSB BLAZERS 76 – 66 JRU HEAVY BOMBERS
Tony Ynot was instrumental on both ends, finishing with 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and a steal, while Ancheta and Raffy Celis contributed 11 and seven points, respectively.
With Allen Liwag still sidelined, the Blazers’ graduating forward turned in a career-high performance, pouring in 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, three steals, three blocks, and an assist to propel Benilde closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs, with one elimination-round game remaining.
The victory improved Benilde’s standing to 8–4 in Group A, placing them just half a game behind leaders San Beda and a full game ahead of Letran in the battle for quarterfinals positioning.
The Blazers will close out the group phase against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Friday, while San Beda and Letran are set to clash on the 23rd.
JRU, which fell to fourth in the group with a 6–7 record, relied on Argente’s 14 points as its only double-digit scorer, while Panapanaan narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Heavy Bombers showed flashes of their season-long resilience, keeping the game within reach until the late fourth-quarter surge from Benilde.
