Depleted Cards keep hopes afloat

Edsel Feliciano delivered the goods as Mapua, playing with a depleted lineup, trounced Jose Rizal, 81-74, yesterday and kept its flickering Final Four hopes alive in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

With Raymund Dula and Ryan Malig calling in sick, and ace playmaker Jeff Martin banned for the rest of the season due to misbehavior, the Cardinals leaned on Feliciano who responded with 26 points, including five of his team’s final seven points.

Their fourth win in 10 games kept the Cardinals in the hunt for the Final Four slots as they dealt the Heavy Bombers their fourth loss against five victories.

"It was a morale-boosting victory for us because it gave us back the confidence we temporarily lost after we lost two straight games," said Mapua coach Horacio Lim.

Earlier, defending champion San Sebastian made mincemeat of Perpetual Help, 84-74, as it moved closer toward a slot in the Final Four.

Dishing out a well-balanced attack, the Stags dominated the match right from the start as they built a 29-point lead in the third quarter en route to their seventh win against only two losses.

The Altas dropped to the bottom of the standings with their ninth setback in 10 games. — JoeyVillar