Mapua Cardinals: Slowly finding their way to the top

They’d rather forget about their woeful start last year. It’s definitely water under the bridge now. The Mapua Cardinals, with an almost intact lineup are now learning the basics, something they probably forgot last year.

Now that they are currently at the third spot, just a game ahead idle Jose Rizal University, the Cardinals are reaping the fruits of their hard work and perseverance since the post-season.

Will this season be kind to the Cardinals, who are vying for a slot in the top four? Macky Acosta said, “Pinaghahandaan talaga namin every game. Hard practice kami palagi.”

Their first prey was the Perpetual Altas, where they played head-to-head with the Las Pinas cagers before leaving them in the desert in the fourth. Arnold Danganan and Andretti Stevens even added a little color to that match with a little scuffle that heavily affected the focus of the crippled Perpetual lineup.

Next stop was the three-time champion San Beda. Mapua really had all systems going all throughout the game, only to surrender down the stretch, or it could be a case of lack of time to recover. They lost to the Mendiola cagers by just five points, 69-64.

Mapua had a smooth sailing time over the Arellano Chiefs that earned them a 2-1 card. By then, they have already surpassed their first round record last year of 1-8. Next stop was the defending champions and this year’s host San Sebastian. If they lost over the Red Lions by just four, they lost to the defending champions by a whopping 19points or 68-49. The Cardinals appeared disorganized without their starting point guard although it was clear in their previous game that they can match-up well even with the three-time champs but the defending champs are just too much. They've got all departments covered, but there's alway the second round to bounce back. Starting guard Allan Mangahas failed to suit up in that game due to disciplinary actions. It will be remembered that, during their pre-season matchup, Allan Mangahas scored a career-high 33 points in their 1-point overtime loss to the Stags.

Holding a 2-2 card, it was then time for the battle of Intramuros between neighbors Mapua and Letran. Last season, Letran never gave Mapua a chance to score a win in their two meetings. This time around, the Cardinals made sure that they will finally win via a convincing output. They dominated the Letran Knights by 15, 66-51.

Macky Acosta, playing his fifth and final year for the Cardinals said, “We’re aiming to be number one. We want to be on top. Yan ang laging sinasabi sa amin ni Coach.”

Fourth win was at the expense of the EAC Generals, who they tied at the 6th and 7th spot last year in the standings at 6-12. The EAC Generals, who still had Argel Mendoza and Claude Cubo at the helm and with the uprising Prodigal Son Millian Vargas, managed to keep the game close up until the start of the fourth quarter before handing the game to the Cardinals on a golden platter at the buzzer, 82-68. By then, the Cardinals are now learning the rudiments of taking care of their lead in the end game, and how to finish a game to their favor.

But in their next game, it seems like they went back to square one. Their matchup against the CSB Blazers almost slipped from their hands. Rookie Carlo Lastimosa, Jan Tan and Mark De Guzman carried the fight for the Blazers whereas the 2008 NCAA Rookie of the Year showed why he earned the honors 2 years ago. Allan Mangahas came up with 25 big points to lead all scorers for the Chito Victolero-mentored squad. This breakout game of Mangahas also earned him the Player of the Week honors.

Right now, before their last game in the elimination round on the 18thagainst the JRU Heavy Bombers, the Cardinals have at least 10 days to prepare for that epic battle. Every Cardinal has a story to tell, three of them shared their sentiments.

When asked on how they plan to deal with the Heavy Bombers, Macky Acosta said, “Siyempre pinag-aaralan namin ang sistema nila through the tapes.”

“Biruin mo, sa five year ko na paglalaro sa Mapua, naka-3 coaches ako. Para sa amin, yung five straight wins to end our season last year, yun ang start ng season namin ngayon. Last year pa kami nagpre-prepare, at nagbunga naman,” added Acosta who also said that probably the reason they struggled last year is that,”Tingin ko, matagal bago naming na-adapt yung system [of Coach Chito]”

Right now, the Cardinals are one win away from tying their total output of wins last year. Rodel Ranises, coming off the bench for the Cardinals, said, “Excited kami makalaro ang JRU kasi galing sa panalo and yung confidence ng bawat isa, nandun. May konting pressure din kahit paano.”

Allan Mangahas, who has finally resurfaced after picking up his normal game in the latter part of the first round said, ”Masaya kami kasi ok yung tinatakbo ng team namin. Focus lang kami sa next game [against JRU on the 18th] at maging solid. Tingin ko, malaki chance namin manalo.”

Coach Chito Victolero, on his second year with the Cardinals is slowly but surely taking his time which is giving him back quality output from his boys. Now, it’s just a matter of time before they barge back into the Final Four, for the first time under his tutelage, and eventually, keeping their fingers crossed, the Finals as well.