Mapua stays on track toward finals

MANILA, Philippines — Lacking in size, Mapua relied on defense, hustle and rebounding strength to beat Arellano, 75-69, yesterday and move to the top of NCAA Season 100 elims at the Cuneta Astrodome.

“Disiplina sa depensa and rebounding kasi sa tatlong teams na nasa Final Four, kami pinakamaliit,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara after the Cardinals swept the second round of the elims.

Thanks to their magnificence, the Cardinals finished with a 15-3 record and No. 1 for the second straight season.

It also arranged a Final Four showdown with Lyceum of the Philippines, which ended up at No. 4 with a 10-8 mark, slated next Saturday.

As top seeds, the Cardinals would need just a victory to advance to the best-of-three finals the way they did last year when they won Game 1 and moved on the cusp of claiming a first NCAA seniors crown since 1991.

But Mapua succumbed to pressure and lost the next two to eventual winner San Beda.

In the other game, San Sebastian shocked San Beda, 79-70, to end its campaign with a 6-12 record. The Lions dropped to 10-8.