Mapua wins back-to-back FilOil Juniors crowns

MANILA, Philippines — The Mapua Red Robins came through in the clutch to pip rival San Beda for the 2018 FilOil Flying-V Preseason Cup Juniors championship, 78-72.

After Justine Sanchez scored off a nifty drop pass by Rhayyan Amsali to make it 70-69 for San Beda with 1:35 left to play, Mapua got a bit of luck when forward Grant Dennison grabbed the ball over two Red Cubs to give the lead back to Mapua; it was a lead they would not surrender.

In San Beda’s next possession, Amsali’s pass inside was deflected by Dennison and Red Robins point guard Karl Mariano pitched the ball to a streaking Clint Escamis for a breakaway lay-up and a 73-70 lead with 25.3 seconds left. It was the easiest basket all match long for either team in a match that got real chippy with ejections, technical fouls, and bloodied lips.

A miss by San Beda in the next possession saw Escamis troop once more to the line for a pair of free throws. The graduating do-it-all player hit both for a five-point lead, 17.7 seconds left. A quick score by Sanchez placed the pressure back on Mapua but an Amsali foul on Dennison saw the Red Robin hit a free throw making the game a two possession ball game. An inbound error by San Beda’s hero in the semifinals, Kai Oliva saw Mapua’s Paolo Hernandez score on a layup for the match’s final points.

It was a disappointing loss for San Beda which despite missing Batang Gilas players Yukien Andrada and Joshua Lazaro held off Mapua.

Mapua only got to taste the lead after a Roselle Sarias triple broke a 48-all deadlock, for a 51-48 lead with 2:20 left in the third period.

After both sides exchanged runs and leads, Mapua proved stronger down the stretch as they repeated over San Beda, their opening day win in this tournament, for back-to-back FilOil Flying-V Championships. Last year, they defeated the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the title game, 89-82.

Clint Escamis top-scored with 30 points while Paolo Hernandez and rookie Joinnel Policarpio each added 12 points. Grant Dennison added 11.

Jade Talampas led San Beda with 20 points while Justine Sanchez added 16.

Escamis was named Most Valuable Player of the Juniors tournament. Joining him in the Mythical Five is his teammate Brieden Smith, FEU-FERN’s Royce Alforque, La Salle Greenhill’s Inand Fornillos, and San Beda’s Rhayyan Amsali.