MAPUA University started defending its seniors basketball title the hard way-a 90-89 double overtime victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University-as the National Collegiate Athletic Association entered its 101st season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
JC Recto led the Cardinals with a near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds to also step up after Mapua star Clint Escamis fouled out in the fourth quarter.
‘I just let my instincts take over. Clint (Escamis) wasn’t there and just because he wasn’t there meant we should focus on him being out,’ Recto said.
Escamis finished with eight points.
‘All I thought about was doing whatever the coaches asked me to do,’ Recto added.
Earl Sapasap and Cyrus Cuenco, had 16 and 14 points, respectively, for the Cardinals.
Renz Villegas finished with 23 points for the Pirates.
Mapua takes on Arellano Univeersity on Saturday while Lyceum faces University of Perpetual Help on Sunday at the San Juan Arena.
Recto tied the game at 80-all with a three-point play in the first overtime, neutralizing a late Pirates surge and he did it again in the second extra period by converting another and-one to pull Mapua.
Regulation ended at 74-74.