Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Arellano University fortified its hold of the third spot with a 97-83 win over Lyceum on Tuesday (September 8) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at The Arena in San Juan.
Jio Jalalon topscored for the Chiefs with 18 points, while Dioncee Holts added 16.
The Chiefs improved to 9-4 while Lyceum dropped to a 3-10 win-loss record.
In the opening game, Mapua leaned on Mark Brana’s clutch play in the dying seconds as it edged Jose Rizal, 68-67, to boost its Final Four.
Brana tapped in a CJ Isit three-point miss and was fouled by John Pontejos for the bonus free throw that he made as the Cardinals escaped with their seventh win against five defeats, which was good for fifth place.
Mapua also stretched its streak to three, its longest this year.
“He was in the right place at the right time. He bailed us out,” said Mapua coach Atoy Co of the 6-4 Brana, who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds more than a week after a 10-point, 10-board effort in a 70-65 win over Perpetual Help.
