The Mapua Robins seek to draw inspiration from their shock Game One triumph over the fancied San Beda Cubs as the former goes for the jugular today in the 92nd NCAA junior basketball tournament at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
Drawing strength from the full-court pressure defense, the Robins hammered out an emphatic 83-64 victory Thursday to move on the verge of sweeping the Cubs and securing their first championship in 16 years.
Mapua is also eyeing its 21st title, one shy of tying San Beda’s league-best 22 crowns.
And the Robins want to accomplish it using their suffocating defense that held the Cubs to their lowest output of the season since downing the San Sebastian Staglets, 74-66, in the first round on July 25.
So punishing was Mapua’s defense that it forced San Beda to not only turn the ball over 31 times but also miss 43 of the 66 shots it attempted.
It also helped that the Robins took away the Cubs’ three-point shooting after the latter went four of 23 from there.
San Beda’s total output was also a far cry from its last game when it outgunned Perpetual Help, 102-93, in their do-or-die Final Four duel last week to clinch the other finals slot.
The Lions though ran into Mapua’s defensive wall and never recovered.
“That would be our weapon against San Beda, our defense,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara.