Benilde beats Mapua 71-69 to join three-way tie atop Group A
Ian Torres scored 15 points as the Blazers ended their two-game losing run and stopped the Cardinals from securing a seventh consecutive victory.
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde moved level with San Beda and JRU at the top of Group A after edging Mapua University 71-69 on October 26. The NCAA Season 102 men's basketball contest at the FilOil EcoOil Centre left Benilde with a 7-3 record and Mapua at 6-4.
Torres contributed 15 points, four assists and three rebounds for the Blazers. Jhommel Ancheta and Raffy Celis added 14 points apiece as Benilde recovered from consecutive crossover defeats against Emilio Aguinaldo College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
The Blazers led for much of the contest, but Mapua kept the result in doubt. After being fouled by Celis, Cy Cuenco converted three free throws to cut Benilde's advantage to 70-69 with 16.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Yam Concepcion then fouled Ancheta on the inbound play. Ancheta made one of his two free throws with 9.6 seconds left. Cuenco missed a three-point attempt that could have won the game, with Celis defending closely, ending Mapua's run of six consecutive victories.
