Hernandez saves day for Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines — Paolo Hernandez put on his superman cape in the fourth quarter and helped Mapua to a 75-71 win over College of St. Benilde yesterday in NCAA Season 99 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The sweet-shooting Hernandez saved the day for the Cardinals after a heroic 12-point performance in the final five minutes en route to finishing with a game-high 22 points.

Mapua’s last seven points also came from Hernandez – a clutch jumper and five pressure-packed foul shots – as the Cardinals claimed their third victory in four outings that was good enough to keep it inside the magic four.

“He was just clutch,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara of Hernandez.

It took Mapua time to get its game going after struggling painfully in the first half when it trailed by as many as 11 points before it managed to trim it down to a more manageable level.

And then the Cardinals got going and kept the game close before they finally caught up on the Blazers and moved ahead, 59-58, on Hernandez’ three-point play with a little over five minutes to go.

Mapua also got a big break after Will Gozum fouled out in that same stretch.

It was a heartbreaker for the Blazers, who managed to snatch a 71-70 lead after Miguel Oczon sank a thunderous triple with 35 seconds to go.

It proved to be CSB’s last as Mapua held the Blazers scoreless the rest of the way while Hernandez hammered in the final nail in the coffin with a bucket and three free throws.

CSB sputtered to 1-3.