Altas, Dolphins enter Final Four

Perpetual Help crushed tailender St. Benilde, 90-74, while Philippine Christian edged erstwhile co-leader Letran, 80-77, as the Altas and the Dolphins secured the first two slots in the NCAA Final Four at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.

Curiously, both the Altas and the Dolphins leaned heavily on the heroics of their ace guards as they nailed victories that guaranteed their entry into the semifinals.

With similar 9-4 win-loss cards, the Altas and the Dolphins have also gained the inside track in the fight for the twice-to-beat incentive in the semis.

Dom Javier sizzled with 28 points including 15 in a 22-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters that paved the way for PCU’s breakaway win.

Jason Castro, meanwhile, sank a triple with three seconds left in the clock, shattering a 77-all deadlock and the hearts of the Knights who set out for the game also gunning for an outright semis seat.

Instead, the Knights were stalled at 8-5, within striking distance by the San Sebastian Stags at 7-5 and the Mapua Cardinals and the San Beda Red Lions at 6-6.

"We’re happy we’ve accomplished one of our two initial goals, which is to make the Final Four. The next step now is the twice-to-beat edge," said coach Bai Cristobal whose Altas are making their first stint in the Final Four since 2000.

Javier delivered the finishing touches but rookie Conrad Fritz Bauzon carried the cudgels for the Altas early on.

Bauzon exploded with 20 points, the bulk of which coming in the second quarter when Perpetual Help raced to a 41-31 halftime lead.

After the Blazers came threateningly close in the third, then came Javier.

Castro, meanwhile, emerged PCU’s biggest hero as he fired the deciding basket on a three-pointer with three ticks left in the clock.

Letran had a chance to force overtime but Ronjay Enrile’s desperation try at the buzzer bounced off the rim, allowing PCU to stretch its amazing streak to six games.