Lions stop Cardinals; Bombers trip Altas

MANILA, Philippines -- San Beda put a stop to Mapua's giant-slaying ways with an emphatic 75-65 victory Friday to gain the edge in the hotly contested Final Four race in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Arthur dela Cruz toyed with a triple-double performance and had 17 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to help power the Lions to the solo lead and clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four berth with a 12-4 (win-loss) slate.

Dela Cruz, Baser Amer and Nigerian Ola Adeogun combined for 13 points in a run that saw the Lions turn a one-point lead midway in the fourth quarter into a win.

"This is a character win for us," said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

The Lions roared to an early 38-16 lead, their biggest, and looked headed to a lopsided triumph.

Mapua fought its way back and cut it to a hairline, 60-61, on a Josan Nimes lay up midway in the fourth quarter.

And then dela Cruz, Amer and Adeogun took charge to put the game away.

The loss snapped Mapua's six-game streak and sent it crashing to a sixth defeat against 10 wins and into joint fifth with Jose Rizal, which edged Perpetual Help, 62-60, to stay in the hunt.

Jose Rizal did it with defense and a heavy dose of John Pontejos and Abdoul Poutouochi in escaping with the win.

John Pontejos led all scorers with 19 points including 16 in the third quarter when the Bombers overhauled a double-digit deficit and leaned on Poutouochi's go-ahead basket with less than two minutes to go.

The Kalentong-based dribblers also shut down the Altas by holding them field goal-less in the last seven minutes to go.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 75 - Dela Cruz 17, Amer 15, Tankoua 12, Tongco 12, Koga 10, Adeogun 7, Mocon 2, Cabanag 0, Soberano 0, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0.

MAPUA 65 - Oraeme 15, Menina 15, Nieles 10, Nimes 9, Braña 6, Serrano 4, Isit 2, Aguirre 2, Raflores 2, Biteng 0.

Quarters: 23-12, 41-26, 58-48, 75-65.

Second Game

Jose Rizal 62- Pontejos 19, Poutouochi 12, Teodoro 12, Grosep 12, Lasquety 4, Cruz 2, Dela Virgen 1, Astilla 0, Sanchez 0, Balagtas 0, dela Paz 0, Estrella 0

Perpetual Help 60- Dizon 15, Thompson 12, Akhuetie 9, Dagangon 7, Eze 6, Coronel 4, Gallardo 4, Oliveria 3, Ylagan 0, Tamayo 0, Sadiwa 0

Quarterscores: 11-17; 26-38; 55-52; 62-60