Espiritu scored eight of his 29 points in the extra period, including six straight that gave the Warriors an 89-81 cushion in the final 2:46.

The Cardinals stormed back with a 8-4 swing behind Allan Mangahas and Ian Chris Mazo to trim the gap to 87-93 in the final 1:31, but Espiritu struck back for a 95-86 lead with 1:09 to keep Mapua at bay en route to the win.

Espiritu, who also pulled down 14 rebounds, and Mazo, who finished with a game-high 34 points for Mapua, actually engaged each other in a shootout in overtime and scored eight points each in that stretch, but Mazo’s last five points, including a triple, came when the Warriors had already secured the victory.

Regulation ended at 80all.

With the win, the Warriors climbed to 3-0 in Group A, while the Cards slid to 3-3 (win-loss) in Group B in this tournament also backed by Total Metro Oil, Canopy Homes, Flying V Biodiesel Premium, Smart, Boysen, Bayo, Metathione, Padi’s Point, CDO, Reyes Barbecue, Burlington, Chowking, Ecology Marine Transport Specialist, Inc., Diamond Purified Drinking Water and official ball Nike.

Far Eastern University, meanwhile, disposed of National University, 6954, to clinch its fourth straight win and assume the solo lead in Group B.

Benedict Fernandez scored 12 points, Andy Mark Barroca had 11 and seven assists and Jens Dieter Knuttel added seven for the Tamaraws, who built several 20-point leads, the last at 67-47 in the final 5:15 en route to the lopsided win.

The Bulldogs, who drew 12 points from Raymund Aguilar and nine from Aaron Galapon, fell to 1-3 in Group A.

The scores:

UE 99 — Espiritu 29, Llagas 26, Thiele Lingganay 7, Tagarda 7, Zamar 6, Martinez 5, Bandaying 4, Acuna 2, Etrone 2, Alabanza 1.

MAPUA 95 — Mazo 34, Mangahas 12, Banal 11, N. Pascual 11, Cornejo 10, J. Pascual 2, Acosta 2, Dela Peña 2, Soriano 2.

Quarterscores: 20-21, 48-43, 67-59, 80-80 (OT) 99-95