Rich Golden Showers upsets Mapua in BBI caging

MANILA, Philippines – For a small school like Rich Golden Showers Montessori Center, any win is good.

Mark Magno hit two free throws with three seconds left to give RGSMC Spartans a 66-63 lead over Mapua’s aspirants team in the Under-19 division of the Sulit.ph Breakdown Basketball Invitationals at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

Mapua’s Neil Castor had a chance to send the match into overtime but muffed his three-point attempt to the joy of the RGSMC crowd as their team won its first match in six outings.

It was a close match with either team trading runs and lead changes. But the Spartans proved steadier as they shot better from two-point range and the free throw line — categories that hurt Mapua.

Jeremiah Canizares led the Spartans with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds while getting steady support from almost their entire roster. As a result, the bench contributed 31 points to the 13 of Mapua, which only relied on two players.

Head coach Ian Racela’s luckless Red Robins had two players finish with double doubles. Neil Castor tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds while Jasper Gapay finished with an equally impressive 14 points, 18 rebounds and one assist. 

The Spartans’ win gave RGSMC its first win, tying them with Mapua at 1-5 in the Under-19 Division with two matches to play. Malabon brings up the rear with a 1-6 record. 

UST paces the nine-team field with a 6-1 record with University of the Philippines Integrated School at second with a 6-2 slate. De La Salle Zobel is third at 5-2 and AMA Computer College looking to complete the semi-finals cast with a 4-2 record. College of San Benildo Rizal is on the outside looking in with a 3-3 slate while Arellano University seems to be out of it with a 2-3 record and three matches to play.