Sweet revenge: Rookie Chris Hubilla steps up as Mapua gets back at San Beda

MANILA, Philippines – The Mapua Cardinals finally solved the San Beda Red Lions’ puzzle in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament. 

After three consecutive heartbreaking losses to San Beda dating back to their Season 99 finals encounter, the Cardinals got back at the defending champion Red Lions with a 58-55 second-round escape at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Sunday, October 20. 

Mapua’s rookie sensation Chris Hubilla proved to be a thorn in the side of his former school San Beda as he produced a game-high 17 points, all coming in the first half.

Cyrus Cuenco also stepped up when it mattered most for the Cardinals, pouring in 7 of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, as they likewise avenged their stinging 76-69 overtime loss to the Red Lions in the first round.

With Mapua already ahead by as many as 14 points in the third period, 40-26, San Beda fought its way back and managed to overtake the Cardinals, 51-49, off a Bryan Sajonia layup with 3:30 to go in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for the Red Lions, their lead proved to be short-lived as a booming three-pointer by Cuenco at the 2:58 mark ignited a furious 8-0 Mapua blast, capped by a JC Recto floater to give the Cardinals a 57-51 edge with 1:06 remaining.

The Red Lions got back to within 55-57 after a layup by Menard Songcuya and two free throws by Sajonia, but time was simply not on their side as Cuenco settled the final count at 58-55 with a free throw with just 2.9 seconds left. 

Hubilla — who once played for the San Beda Red Cubs in high school — also recorded a game-high 9 rebounds, along with 2 assists and a plus-minus of +13, while shooting 6-of-12 from the field. 

Mapua bucked a lackluster performance by its reigning NCAA MVP Clint Escamis, who finished with only 7 points on a lowly 3-of-15 field goal clip.  

Sajonia topscored for San Beda with 12 points, while Jomel Puno had 11 in the highly physical affair that saw both teams commit multiple unsportsmanlike fouls.

San Beda also lost its center Bismarck Lina in the third quarter due to a disqualifying foul.  

With the hard-fought win, the Cardinals solidified their hold of the No. 2 spot with a 10-3 record and shoved the Red Lions down to an 8-5 card. 

Earlier, the league-leading College of St. Benilde Blazers continued their dominant run in Season 100 after breezing past the JRU Heavy Bombers, 80-65, for their fourth straight victory. 

Ian Torres led the Blazers in the scoring column with 16 points on 6-of-12 field goal clip, while star big man Allen Liwag posted his usual double-double numbers of 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

Joshua Guiab paced the Heavy Bombers in their fourth loss in a row with 17 points, while Shawn Argente and Marvin Raymundo added 14 and 13 markers, respectively. 

CSB hiked its record to 10-2, while JRU slipped further to 3-9 in the standings.  

The Scores

First Game

CSB 80 – Torres 16, Liwag 12, Sanchez 10, Ancheta 9, Eusebio 9, Oli 6, Cajucom 5, Cometa 4, Ondoa 4, Serrano 2, Turco 2, Morales 1, Sangco 0, Jarque 0, Galas 0. 

JRU 65 – Guiab 17, Argente 14, Raymundo 13, Pangilinan 8, De Leon 4, Bernardo 4, Mosqueda 3, Lozano 2, Samontanes 0, Sarmiento 0, Ferrer 0.

Quarters: 21-17, 42-33, 68-40, 80-65. 

Second Game

Mapua 58 – Hubilla 17, Cuenco 11, Escamis 7, Abdulla 5, Recto 4, Mangubat 4, Jabonete 4, Concepcion 3, Igliane 3, Bancale 0, Fermin 0. 

San Beda 55 – Sajonia 12, Puno 11, Andrada 9, Estacio 6, Songcuya 6, Lina 6, Payosing 3, Tagle 2, Royo 0, Calimag o, Bonzalida 0.

Quarters: 16-12, 32-23, 46-40, 58-55.

– Rappler.com