Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) – Two teams competing in NCAA Season 97 notched crucial wins in their final elimination round games on Wednesday at the La Salle Greenhills Gym.
In the first game, the Mapua University Cardinals strengthened their chances for a twice-to-beat semifinals advantage with a 75-65 victory over the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates.
Toby Agustin and Paolo Hernandez led the Cardinals after chipping in 13 points apiece to end their elimination round campaign with a 7-2 slate.
Mapua can clinch the second seed if San Beda loses to archrival and unbeaten Letran Knights on Friday. The Cardinals have the edge in this scenario after routing the Red Lions on April 23.
If San Beda prevails against Letran, Mapua will occupy the third seed and advance to the play-in tournament against fourth seed College of St. Benilde.
John Barba closed out his rookie season with Lyceum with 16 points and five rebounds while Omar Larupay added 15 markers and 14 boards as they bowed out of the tournament with a 2-7 slate.
In the second game, the Arellano University Chiefs secured a spot in the play-in tournament after beating the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 65-62.
Chiefs versatile big man Justin Arana sealed the close win after converting all his two free-throws in the last 37.8 seconds of the match.
Heavy Bombers sniper Jason Celis had a chance to extend the game to overtime, but his wide-open triple missed the target.
Arana came up big again for Arellano after tallying 18 points and 29 rebounds as they finished their eliminations with a 4-5 slate.
In the play-in tournament, the Chiefs will face the winner between Perpetual Help Altas and Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Friday. The Altas and Generals both have a 3-5 record.
Evan Agbong recorded 16 points for JRU, which finished at the bottom of the team standings with a 1-8 record.
The Scores:
First game:
MAPUA 75 – Hernandez 13, Agustin 13, Lacap 12, Gamboa 10, Garcia 9, Nocum 6, Bonifacio 5, Asuncion 3, Pido 2, Mercado 2, Salenga 0.
LYCEUM 65 – Barba 16, Larupay 15, Remulla 8, Cunanan 7, Navarro 6, Bravo 5, Guadana 4, Garro 3, Abadeza 1, Jabel 0, Valdez 0, Guinto 0.
Quarterscores: 15-17, 32-34, 53-47, 75-65.
Second game:
ARELLANO 65 – Arana 18, Doromal 13, Sablan 11, Sta. Ana 7, Oliva 6, Concepcion 3, Valencia 2, Caballero 2, Carandang 2, Cruz 1, Steinl 0.
JRU 62 – Agbong 16, Dionisio 11, Macatangay 9, Delos Santos 8, Arenal 7, Celis 7, Guiab 4, Jungco 0, Bongay 0, Aguado 0, Estrella 0, Aguilar 0, C. Gonzales 0, dela Rama 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 34-28, 53-46, 65-62.
