San Juan City: In a thrilling encounter at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City, Mapua University's Paolo Hernandez scored a crucial three-pointer in the last 32 seconds, leading his team to a narrow 71-69 win against San Beda University on Sunday. This victory propelled Mapua to the top of the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mapua now stands with 12 wins and three losses. On the other hand, San Beda's defeat marked their sixth loss, leaving them with eight wins this season.
In an earlier match, Perpetual Help edged past Lyceum with a close 81-80 score, owing to a last-second triple by Mark Omega. This outcome pushed Lyceum down to second place in the standings, with a record of 11-4. Perpetual Help's key player, Marcus Nitura, displayed an impressive performance with 18 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block, aligning his team with Emilio Aguinaldo College in the sixth spot, both holding an 8-7 record.
In another game, College of Saint Benilde defeated San Sebastian College 78-68, improving their record to 10-5. Will Gozum, the reigning Most Valuable Player, led the Blazers with significant contributions in points, rebounds, and assists. Despite efforts from Romel Calahat and Alex Desoyo, San Sebastian College faced their 10th loss against five wins.