Cards boot out Chiefs, gift Knights semis seat

MANILA, Philippines - Ousted Mapua played the spoiler’s role as it thumped Arellano U, 74-59, to likewise boot out the Chiefs from the Final Four race in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

TG Guillermo fired 16 points while Mark Sarangay, Allan Mangahas and Erwin Cornejo combined for 34 points as the Cardinals led from start to finish to dash the Chiefs’ hopes for a playoff for the last semis berth against the Letran Knights.

Arellano was hoping for a sweep of its last four games and for Letran to lose its last two games to force a tie at No. 4 at 11-7.

But with a 7-8 card, the Chiefs bowed out of contention with the Knights formalizing their stint in the next round with still two weeks left in the double-round elims among 10 teams.

The Cardinals hardly improved to 3-12 in a tie with Perpetual Help at eighth.

San Sebastian (14-0), San Beda (13-2) and Jose Rizal (13-2) have clinched the first three Final Four berths as early as last week.

Unlike in their past outings, the Cardinals came into the match with guns blazing, making half of their 58 shots, including an impressive 24-of-39 shooting from the two-point area.

The Cardinals also shackled Arellano’s shooters Giorgio Ciriacruz and Adrian Celada, who were held to 16 and five points, respectively.

In the other seniors game, St. Benilde downed Angeles U Foundation, 74-61, to notch its fifth win against 10 setbacks.

The Great Danes fell to their 14th loss against a win.

In juniors’ action, Mapua smothered Arellano U, 73-54, while St. Benilde walloped Angeles U Foundation, 97-26.