Lions thwart Cards for semis top seed

San Beda extended its win run to 11 as it walloped Mapua, 73-56, yesterday to clinch the top seeding in the Final Four in the 82nd NCAA basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Rookie John Escobal and Yousif Aljamal sizzled with 17 points each as the Red Lions roared to their 11th straight victory and 12th overall in 13 games to top the double-round elimination with two playdates left.

It was the first time San Beda topped the elimination since the Boybits Victoria-led team made the feat 15 years ago.

The Mendiola-based cagers will thus go to the semifinals with the twice-to-beat advantage against the No. 4 Cardinals, who fell to their sixth loss against seven wins.

"We know that we’re assured of a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four when we beat PCU but we have an obligation to win our game," said San Beda coach Koy Banal.

The Lions hardly felt the absence of back-up forward Riego Gamalinda, who was suspended for misconduct in their 73-64 win over the Dolphins last week.

San Beda’s 11-game win streak also matched Letran’s run last season when the Knights posted an 11-0 (win-loss) start on their way to the championship.

The Lions, in fact, will take on the second running Knights (10-3), the same team that ended their last longest streak when they went 13-0 in 1978.

San Beda, then led by Chito Loyzaga and Frankie Lim, eventually won the championship.

The league’s last longest streak was San Sebastian’s 14-0 sweep of the eliminations nine years ago.

Earlier, Jose Rizal downed San Sebastian, 89-76, in a non-bearing contest for its fourth win in 13 outings. It was the Stags’ ninth loss against four victories.