Cards enhance Final Four bid

Mapua used one big scoring spurt in the second quarter then sustained its run in the second half to score a lopsided 83-64 victory over University of Perpetual Help Dalta System to firm up its Final Four bid in the 83rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.  

With five players scoring in double figures, the Cardinals dominated the action from the second period en route to posting their third straight victory and fifth overall against six losses.

That enabled Mapua to hold on to fourth spot, frustrating San Sebastian’s bid to dislodge the Cards following the Stags’ 75-58 victory over the St. Benilde Blazers earlier.

Another win by the Cardinals against the Blazers in their last elims assignment on Aug. 22 will assure themselves of at least a playoff berth for the last seat in the Final Four.

Hermes Sumalinog poured in all his eight points in the second quarter as the Cardinals broke away from a tight 20-18 game with a 20-13 run to close the first half on top, 40-31.

Kelvin dela Peña paced Mapua’s charge with 16 points, eight rebounds and  nine assists in another sterling performance by the King Cardinal.

Jerby del Rosario had 14 points, while Jonathan Banal added 12 and Neil Pascual chipped in 10 points for Mapua.

The Altas dropped to 2-7. 

Earlier, San Sebastian clobbered St. Benilde to remain in the hunt for the fourth and last spot in the semifinal round with a 4-5 (win-loss) mark.

With Jim Viray on the firing end, the Stags used a decisive 24-14 run in the fourth quarter to complete the rout of the Blazers, who dropped to 1-9.

Viray, who led San Sebastian with 23 points on a 6-of-13 shooting beyond the arc, gave the Stags their biggest lead at 69-53 with only 2:47 left in the contest.

“We only need to win two of our three remaining games to force a playoff,” said Stags mentor Jorge Gallent. “But I keep reminding my players to be more aggressive each game to be able to do it.”

The Blazers failed to sustain their fine start that saw them wrest a 15-13 lead after the first quarter. They trailed the Stags by one point at the half but reeled farther back as the Recoletos-based cagers started to pull away, 51-44, at the end of the third.

Gilbert Bulawan added 12 points and center Jason Ballesteros pulled down 16 rebounds for the Stags.

Kris Robles paced CSB with 19 points.