Pinoyliga Cup Finals: Mapua repeats over JRU to nab 35-UP Alumni Cup

MANDALUYONG -- Mapua kept their cool despite blowing a huge lead in the third, taking down JRU to nab the 35 and above Inter-Alumni Cup to wrap up Championship Saturday at the Gatorade Hoops Center.

The Greasemonkey-backed Cardinals led by as much as 22 early in the third, when the Ronin-sponsored JRU side made a rally to pull within a point in the pay-off period but Mapua held on to repeat their elimination round win with a title to bring home.

Point guard Jay Recio lead Mapua with 15 points, as Narayan Javier had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals to bag the Finals MVP honors, as he nabbed 34 statistical points in just 17 minutes of action.

Arman Kong had a game-high 16 points for JRU, but their final quarter uprising just ran out of steam in the endgame.

The scores:

Mapua-Greasemonkey 76 -- Recio 15, Cajayon 11, Roque 10, N. Javier 9, Patrimonio 8, Galvez 7, Callelero 6, V. Javier 5. Anabo 2, Harder 2, Torres 2, Aseron 0, Sese 0, Gallo 0, Belen 0

JRU-Ronin 69  -- Kong 16, Tagle 11, Espiritu 11, Mabazza 11, Zarate 11, Lleses 6, subida 3, Foronda 0, Laygo 0, Sabio 0, Patricio 0, Granada 0, Brucal 0, Valenzuela 0

Quarter scores: 20-24, 42-29, 58-55, 76-69

(photo by Pinoyliga Cup)