At A Glance
- Paolo Hernandez came up huge in the endgame anew as Mapua squeezed past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-69, for back-to-back wins in the NCAA Season 99 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Paolo Hernandez came up huge in the endgame anew as Mapua squeezed past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-69, for back-to-back wins in the NCAA Season 99 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Sunday, Oct. 8.

The hero of the Cardinals’ wild 75-71 win over College of St. Benilde just last Wednesday, displayed nerves of steel once more, nailing a tough step-back elbow jumper over the outstretched arms of JP Maguliano to put his team ahead for good, 71-69, with 35 seconds left.
Hernandez’s late game heroics more than made up for his 4-of-11 shooting from the field to finish with 11 points. Jopet Soriano actually led Mapua in scoring with 15 points as he kept his team afloat in the face of a fiery showing from EAC’s Nat Cosejo.
Three other Cardinals breached the double-figure scoring with Ferdie Asuncion adding 11 points and Clint Escamis and JC Recto contributing 10 apiece.
Mapua improved to a 4-1 record in the standings while dealing EAC its second-straight defeat for a 2-2 slate.
EAC actually had the lead, 68-65 entering the last two minutes of the contest after a floater from Maguliano but Hernandez started to work for the Cardinals with a tough drive to the basket to pull his team within one.
Escamis then completed a crucial steal in the next possession which led to a Ryle Rosilio layup to give Mapua a 69-68 lead. Joshua Tolentino then split his charities for EAC to tie the game 69-all with 54 seconds left, setting up the table to Hernandez’s clutch basket.
Cosejo paced the Generals with 23 points while Maguliano and King Gurtiza added 10 apiece in a losing effort.