Mapua Institute of Technology played relentless defense down the stretch, limiting Arellano University without a single field goal to pull off a 68-49 victory in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
Rookie Michael Gerald Parala and sophomore Josan Nimes played big in the pivotal fourth canto to help the Cardinals close the first round of eliminations on a high note with their fourth win in nine matches, moving just within striking distance from pacesetters San Sebastian College and Jose Rizal University (7-2).
The 6-foot-2 Parala fired eight of his game-high 21 points together with 13 rebounds and three blocks while Nimes contributed two booming three-point baskets down the stretch to shatter the hearts of the hard-fighting Chiefs.
With the setback, Arellano dropped to 3-6, tying idle College of Saint Benilde at the seventh spot and just a hairline away from tail-enders Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum Pirates, which carry a similar 2-7 slate.
“I told the boys na walang kama-kamag-anak dito,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero, who drew 16 points from Jonathan Banal, nephew of Arellano coach Koy Banal.
“Kailangan talaga naming manalo ngayon. Buti na lang sinuwerte kami at nag-click ang depensa namin sa fourth quarter.”
Waxing hot early on, the Cardinals tried to put the game under control in the third period, but the Chiefs waged a blistering rally to shave the deficit down to within four, 46-50, on spirited plays of Rocky Acidre and Prince Caperal. But that proved to be the last kick from the Chiefs as Parala and Nimes completely dominated the game, uncorking a 10-2 bomb to seal the victory.
Acidre bannered the Chiefs with 20 points, but his guns were clogged in the payoff period as the merciless defense of the Cardinals finally came into play.