NCAA: Mapua outlasts Perpetual Help in OT to extend winning streak

MANILA — Mapua University pushed its winning streak to five games on Friday after a 65-60 overtime win over Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

The Cardinals showed their endgame composure anew, after battling past Letran in another overtime affair last Monday.

The result improved their record to 5-3.

The Mapua Cardinals in their game against Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament, October 16, 2026 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. Angela Davocol, NCAA Philippines“The quote of the day was ‘toughness’ and I knew it would be a grind-it-out game, and even a 45-minute game,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero, whose wards played an overtime game for the third time in the tournament.

“Humanap ako ng word para sa game na ‘to and it was all about our toughness, grit and resiliency. I think we had a bad game but we will take it,” he added.

The Cardinals erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth period, 42-52, to force overtime at 54-all.

They opened the extra period with a 9-4 scoring outburst capped by a Cyrus Cuenco triple for the 63-58 lead with 1:43 to go.

Cuenco, who finished with a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds, scored nine of Mapua’s 11 points in the extra five minutes of the game.

Yam Concepcion and Marcus Nitura dropped 14 points apiece for the Cardinals while Jamal Diaz scored 12 in the dub.

LA Casinillo top scored for Perpetual with 17 markers whole Mark Gojo Cruz’s 10-point outing went down the drain as the Altas lost their fifth straight for a 2-6 record in Group B.

MU 65 – Cuenco 17, Concepcion 14, M. Nitura 14, Diaz 12, L. Nitura 2, Lazarte 2, Razon 2, Reyes 2, Igliane 0, Ryan 0, Dones 0, Liwanag 0, Timbol 0, Bernabe 0

UPHSD 60 – Casinillo 17, Gojo Cruz 10, Maglupay 8, Gelsano 8, Tulabut 6, Duremdes 4, Cristino 3, Borja 2, Orgo 2, Corpuz 0

Quarter scores: 11-16, 28-35, 39-45, 54-54, 65-60