DEFENDING champion Mapua showed why it was still a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament after stunning Group A leader Perpetual Help, 77-61, at San Juan Arena on Friday.

Fresh off a 78-73 win over Lyceum a few days ago, the Cardinals kept their momentum going, shoving the Altas down to their second straight loss.

The reigning kings of the NCAA kept their footing as Pool A’s second best squad with a 6-5 record. Perpetual, however, remained atop the ladder despite tripping to an 8-3 card.

Clint Escamis fired a game-high 18 points that went along with five assists, two rebounds and a steal, much to the delight of coach Randy Alcantara.

“Capable naman talaga umiskor ‘yon kasi leader namin siya at captain ball namin siya,” Alcantara said.

“Pero, nakikita din natin na kung sino ‘yong scorer sa kabilang team, aakuin niya rin talagang depensahan.”

Helping Escamis tow the Cardinals past the Altas were Cyrus Cuenco and Yam Concepcion, who finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Perpetual, on the other hand, was suffocated by Mapua on defense with only one player breaching double digits in scoring.

Josiah Alcantara top scored for the Altas with 10 points while key cogs Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz struggled in the loss with just nine and eight points, to their names.

The scores:

Mapua (77)  – Escamis 18, Cuenco 13, Concepcion 11, Sapasap 10, Gonzales 8, Igliane 7, Delos Reyes 4, Nitura 2, Lazarte 2, Abdulla 2, Recto 0, Callangan 0, Ryan 0, Gulapa 0, Reyes 0

Perpetual Help  (61) – Alcantara 10, Sleat 9, Maglupay 9, Gojo Cruz 8, Boral 8, Casinilio 6, Tulabut 5, Orgo 3, Abis 2, Nuñez 1, Pagulayan 0, Guibao 0, Duremdes 0

Quarterscores: 16-12, 40-30, 58-42, 77-61.