By CARLO ANOLIN
Shane Menina delivered when it mattered the most once more, burying a crucial three to help Arellano outlast Mapua, 64-59, in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Key defensive stops from Danielle Mallari and Joshua Abastillas though paved the way for Menina to create space midcourt, isolating himself from beyond the arc and draining a dagger trey from the left wing with 28.7 seconds left to give the Chiefs a sigh of relief in the end game.
Menina, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, proved to be a thorn for Mapua as the late conversions of Paolo Hernandez and Adrian Nocum weren’t enough to pull off a comeback win for the embattled Cardinals.
Axel Doromal led all scorers with 16 points while Cade Flores had another stellar game, tallying 14 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists as the Chiefs improved to a 4-3 record.
A win for the Chiefs was another sorry loss for the Cardinals, who fell to a 0-7 hole, as they continue to suffer from a huge blow after the NCAA Management Committee recently forfeited their opening win against the San Beda Red Lions last Sept. 10.
Arellano head coach Cholo Martin expressed satisfaction with how his wards played defensively, especially down the stretch against last season’s first runner-up squad.
Bucking a slow start, Arellano went toe-to-toe with Mapua in the payoff period and it all boiled down to the sequence that ensued in the last minute.
After leading by three points only, Doromal kept the pace for the Chiefs with a conversion with 55 seconds left before Menina pulled off one of his many — and more to come — heroic acts this season.
The scores:
Arellano 64 ‒ Doromal 16, Flores 14, Menina 13, Talampas 7, Oftana 6, Tolentino 4, Abastillas 2, Oliva 2, Mallari 0, Mantua 0, Domingo 0.
Mapua 59 — Hernandez 14, Gamboa 11, Nocum 10, Bonifacio 10, Pido 6, Agustin 4, Lacap 2, Parinas 2, Garcia 0, Soriano 0, Salenga 0.
Quarters: 13-8, 27-26, 46-38, 64-59.
