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Coach Leo Isaac laid all his cards to whip his counterpart in overtime. But Kelvin Dela Peña’s awesome triple-double gave Coach Isaac the highest complement.

The Mapua Cardinals used a crippling 17-7 burst in the extra five-minute period to squeeze out an inspiring 85-75 overtime victory over University of Perpetual Help-Dalta System Wednesday in the 83rd NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

“It’s really good we were able to beat a rugged team like Perpetual,” said Dela Peña, who sniped in five triples, three two-pointers and two free throws for 23 points along with 14 rebounds and 10 assists with four steals.

After forcing a 68-all tie to force an extension, Mapua came up huge in the extra five-minute mark with Dela Peña and Neil Pascual combining forces to improve the Cardinals slate to 2-4.

“It’s really tough but we’re trying most of the time to win every game,” said Leo Isaac, the Cardinals mentor. “Although we lost four games, I’m just telling my players to keep on punching and trying.”

Guard Sean Co, who scored 10 of his 26 points in the third frame, gave the Cardinals an 81-75 lead with 1:41 left in the extra period, and then the Altas failed to score, never to recover.

The Altas, after beating host Jose Rizal University in double overtime last Friday, dropped also to a 2-4 record.

The Cardinals took a 20-15 lead in the first period before they trailed at halftime, 36-40, as the Altas leaned on the combined 14 points of Michael Kong and Ronald Reyes and unleashed a 25-16 attack in the second period.

Mapua Tech, however, capitalized on the sluggish third quarter performance of the Altas as it pulled-off a 19-11 attack courtesy of Co. The Cardinals snatched back the edge, 55-51, at the start of payoff period.

Rookie Jonathan Banal sank two pressure-packed free throws off a controversial Kong foul to forge a 68-all tie that sent the game into overtime with few seconds left.

Later on, he connected on a dagger three-pointer with two minutes to go in the extra period that put the Cardinals safely ahead, 77-70. Neil Pascual and Jerby Del Rosario added 11 points each for the Cardinals.

Mapua got 15 of its 47 total rebounds from Pascual while Perpetual had 38.

The Altas succumbed to 29 turnovers mostly in overtime that cost them the game. Ronald Reyes paced the Altas with 16 points.

Dela Peña’s triple-double feat is probably the first this season in the oldest collegiate basketball league.

Individual scores:

Mapua (85) — Co 26, Dela Peña 23, Pascual 11, Del Rosario 11, Banal 7, Acosta 4, Sumalinog 3, Guillermo 0, Palomique 0, Cornejo 0, Mazo 0.

Perpetual Help (75) — Reyes 16, Lee 10, Ynion 10, Kong 10, Manuel 10, Galabin 9, Dysam 8, Liaz 2, Balboa 0, Joe 0, Salanga 0, Frebian 0.

Quarter scores: 20-15; 36-40; 55-51; 68-68 (reg); 85-75.

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