Games Tomorrow (The Arena)
10 a.m. – JRC vs UPHDS (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. – Mapua vs CSB (Jrs)
2 p.m. – JRC vs UPHDS (Srs)
4 p.m. – Mapua vs CSB (Srs)

San Sebastian College established itself as the hottest title contender this season by scoring an 83-77 win over defending champion San Beda College while Arellano University continued to show off in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Jimbo Aquino and Ian Sangalang delivered the points that mattered most in the final stretch while helping their teammates limit the Red Lions to just seven points in the last six minutes en route to their second win in as many outings.

The Arellano Chiefs blew a 20-point lead but held on to survive the gritty challenge of the rookie-laden Letran squad, 81-73, a win that kept them abreast with the Stags.

The win was not only a fitting follow up to their 80-62 demolition of the Emilio Aguinaldo College last Monday but it also proved that they can beat a fancied team like the Knights.

San Sebastian’s win, on the other hand, shattered the Red Lions’ aura of invincibility as the Stags finally won over them after seven outings since 2005.

The 6-foot Aquino was in a zone, especially in the fourth quarter where he banged in four of his six triples to finish with 26 points. His last trey proved lethal as the Stags of coach Ato Agustin took an 81-77 lead with 1:17 remaining.

The San Beda Red Cubs and Letran Squires, meanwhile, eased through their respective rivals for their second straight victories in the high school division.

The Red Cubs rode on the heroics of Baser Amer to pull the rug from under defending champion San Sebastian Staglets, 78-56, while the Squires relied on the 24-point performance of Glenn Khobuntin to down Arellano Baby Chiefs, 105-76. The Staglets and the Baby Chiefs slipped to similar 1-1 record.