Knights, Lions draw closer to Final 4 edge

San Beda and Letran College fashioned out contrasting victories over Perpetual Help and San Sebastian, respectively, to close in on the twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four of the 82nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lions, unrelenting in the third quarter run, smothered the Altas, 77-57, while the Knights needed to put their act together down the stretch to repulse the stubborn Stags, 62-56, as they remained tied on top with 10-1 (win-loss) records.

They thus built a two-game edge over Philippine Christian U, the only other team with a shot at one of the top two berths for the league’s twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinal round.

The Altas and the Stags fell to their eighth setbacks against three wins and into a three-way tie at fifth spot with the idle Jose Rizal Bombers.

Another loss though for either team or another win by the Mapua, in solo fourth with a 6-5 mark, would pave the way for the Cardinals’ entry to the next round.

Perpetual Help, San Sebastian and Jose Rizal play each other and St. Benilde in their last three games while Mapua closes out its last three assignments against the top three teams.

Pro-bound Boyet Bautista and Aaron Aban combined for 27 points, including clutch baskets in the fourth that defused the Stags’ late fightback.

"We were unrelenting in our defense in the first 35 minutes but we relaxed the rest of the way," said Letran coach Louie Alas, who hopes to steer the Muralla-based school to a fourth straight Final Four appearance.