Chiefs sweep Lions, fan Final Four bid

Jalalon lifts Arellano with 28 pts 

Games today

8 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (jrs)

10 a.m. – EAC vs Mapua (jrs)

12 noon – San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (srs)

2 p.m. – EAC vs Mapua (srs)

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Letran (srs)

6 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Letran (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano U, behind the heroics of Jio Jalalon, bounced back from two stinging losses to clobber San Beda, 91-72, and boost its semifinal bid in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Jalalon poured in 11 of his team-high 25 points in the first quarter as the Chiefs pounced on the Red Lions’ erratic start to seize control then sustained it all the way to the finish to post the surprisingly easy victory, their 11th against six losses.

They tied the Jose Rizal U Bombers and the Perpetual Help Altas at third while foiling the Lions’ bid to nail one of two outright semifinal berth and the twice-to-beat edge. San Beda dropped to 12-5, enabling idle Letran to regain the solo lead anew at 12-4.

Mapua remains in the semis race at sixth with a 10-6 card heading to the last two playdates of the double round elims.

The Chiefs came off a 76-81 loss to the Cardinals last Sept. 18 and to the Knights, 81-87, Friday.

Arellano thus became the first team to sweep San Beda in the elimination round since Calvin Abueva and his San Sebastian squad did the trick three years ago.

The 19-point beating was also the Lions’ worst this season since absorbing an 80-93 defeat to the Knights in the first round last July 16.

“We just want a win, plain and simple,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera.

Earlier, St. Benilde drew a career high from Gerard Castor as it turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 59-56, to hike its record to 5-12.

Castor, who has scored a total of just 28 points and averaged a measly 2.25 points in 16 games this season, fired 14 points this time, including four triples, to help propel the Blazers to their second win in a row.

Eight of the Bacolod City native’s total output came in the second quarter, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer from mid-court at the end of the first half to knot the count at 43.

The Pirates closed out their campaign with a 4-14 record.

In juniors’ play, San Beda turned back Arellano, 80-76, to extend its amazing streak to 17 and move one win away from sweeping its way to the finals where it will enjoy a 1-0 lead in a best-of-five series.

Samuel Abuhilje shot 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to keep the Cubs, the reigning six-peat champions, unbeaten. 

The Braves fell to joint third with the St. Benilde Junior Blazers with identical 11-6 (win-loss) records behind the Mapua Red Robins, who had a 14-2 slate at No. 2.

St. Benilde smashed the LPU Junior Pirates, 81-66, on the heroics of Rodney Manuel, Ricci Rivero and Luigi Velasco, who combined for a whopping 67 points.

LPU fell to No. 5 with 11-7 mark.

The scores:

First Game

St. Benilde 59 – Castor 14, Grey 13, Ongteco 12, J. Domingo 6, Saavedra 5, S. Domingo 4, Sta. Maria 2, Fajarito 2, Deles 1, Nayve 0, Flores 0, Dixon 0, Young 0, San Juan 0.

Lyceum 56 – Gabayni 14, Ayaay 11, Alanes 10, Baltazar 6, Lacastesantos 6, Soliman 3, Marata 2, Mbida 2, Elmerjab 2, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Nguidjol 0, Taladua 0, Bulawan 0

Quarterscores: 9-12, 29-25, 43-all, 59-56

Second Game

Arellano 91 – Jalalon 25, Enriquez 15, Meca 11, Holts 10, Salado 10, Gumaru 9, Cadavis 6, Nicholls 5, Capara 0, Banga 0, Ongolo 0, Ortega 0, de Guzman 0, Zamora 0, Tano 0

San Beda 72 – Adeogun 17, dela Cruz 10, Mocon 8, Soberano 7, Koga 6, Tankoua 6, Tongco 6, Amer 4, Reyes 2, Bonsubre 2, Presbiterio 2, Sorela 2, Cabanag 0, Sara 0, Sedillo 0

Quarterscores: 27-18, 48-37, 73-56, 91-72