Patriots firm up Final 4 bid in NCRAA

The La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots came away with a crushing of the National College of Business and Arts Wildcats, 99-73, yesterday to stay in the chase for the last Final Four semifinal slot in the 13th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Arellano Legarda gym.

Robby Baguio delivered a game-high 21 points for the Patriots, who moved slightly ahead of the Philippine Maritime Institute Admirals with their seventh win in 10 games.

The Admirals, who tote a 6-3 card, remained the Patriots’s biggest rival for the last semis berth, since they wield a better winner-over-the-other record over La Salle-Dasmariñas.

"Habulan pa rin kami ng PMI hanggang bukas," said Patriots coach Ephraim Serrano as he watched PMI fight it out with PATTS School of Aeronautics in a late afternoon contest.

The Patriots are in for a tough battle against the St. Francis Doves at 1:30 p.m. while the Admirals clash with the Wildcats at 10:30 a.m. in two of the day’s crucial matches at the Arellano Legarda gym today.

The Doves now have the No. 1 slot in the Final Four semifinals after beating the Arellano University Flaming Arrows, 76-73, in overtime last week.

The Arrows, who are now running second, share the same slate with the Doves at 9-1 and will meet the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Maroons when the semis begin on Tuesday.

Francis Junatas hit 13 points for the Patriots, and scored 11 in the third as they took an 81-52 edge.

Leo Pelayo had 11 points and joined hands with Jake Patambang for a 16-7 run in the second period, giving the Patriots a 38-28 edge with 2:28 to go.

Nico Pupos made 30 points for the Asian College of Science and Technology Lightnings, who whipped AMA Computer College, 137-72.