Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — San Beda Red Lions put the stranglehold on the top spot by turning back the Letran Knights, 77-73, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Tuesday (October 6) at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lions, who survived a late-game scare by the Knights, now hold a superior 13-5 win-loss record, half a game ahead of their foes who tot a 12-5 card.
San Beda rolled on to a hot start and kept the Knights at bay, until the latter got their bearing going late in the game thanks to their suffocating defense.
But the Lions held their fort, highly contesting three shots by the Knights from beyond the arc in the final seconds to rack up the victory.
Meanwhile, a sterling performance by Jio Jalalon led the Arellano Chiefs to a 98-90 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College
Jalalon battered the Generals on all fronts on his way to his third triple-double performance of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Thanks to the spitfire guard’s Herculean efforts, Arellano still has a chance to clinch a twice-to-beat edge in what has been a wild final four race.
The Chiefs now hold a 12-6 win-loss record.
Earlier, Mapua Cardinals upended College of St. Benilde, 77-72, to stay in the hunt for a final four slot.
Mapua improved to 11-6 for a three-team logjam at fourth with Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal University.
