Games on Friday (The Arena, San Juan City)
10 a.m. — CSB vs. SSC-R (Jrs)
12 noon — EAC vs SBC (Jrs)
2 p.m. — CSB vs SSC-R (Srs)
4 p.m.— EAC vs SBC (Srs)

Fil-American Nate Matute put on another solid effort as Jose Rizal University (JRU) survived the gritty stand of the short-handed University of Perpetual Help, 66-55, and extended its winning run to four in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Proving that his 22-point breakout game in the team's 76-60 win over the Letran Knights last time was no fluke, Matute produced 15 points — still enough to lead his team for the second straight game.

His versatility was more than felt in the payoff period where he scored nine points as the Heavy Bombers kept the Altas at bay.

The win improved JRU's record to 8-2, just half a game behind second-running San Sebastian College (8-1).

In the second game, Mapua overhauled a 14-point deficit in the last three and a half minutes as the Cardinals essayed a thrilling come-from-behind 63-60 victory against Letran for their sixth win.

The once proud Letran squad dropped to 3-7, its Final Four bid now in peril.

"He's (Matute) now feeling his game. I always tell him to shot every time he's open because he's the only other legitimate shooter in the team," JRU mentor Vergel Meneses said of his ward from Las Vegas, who went 5-of-8 from downtown in 28 minutes of action.

The win, however, did not sit well for Meneses considering their error-prone plays.

"Last time I said we're already 70 percent of our potential. But with the way they played, I think we're going down again," rued Meneses, whose squad committed 30 turnovers.

Raycon Kabigting added 12 points while Alex Almario and John Montemayor had 10 apiece for the Bombers, who pounced on the absence of Altas' top scorer Arnold Danganan.

Danganan, who is averaging 15.6 points a game, was suspended after committing two flagrant fouls during their 70-79 loss to College of Saint Benilde last August 16.

The scores:
First Game
JOSE RIZAL 66 — Matute 15, Kabigting 12, Almario 10, Montemayor 10, Etame 7, Apinan 7, Lopez 3, Hayes 2, Duncil 0, Badua 0, Lopez.
PERPETUAL 55 — Allen 14, Vidal 14, Ynion 8, Alano 7, Arboleda 7, Jolancob 3, Asuncion 2, Elopre 0, Kinatanar 0.
Quarters: 16-11; 27-28; 48-43; 66-55.

Second Game
MAPUA 63 — Cornejo 18, Guillermo 11, Acosta 11, Pascual 5, Ighalo 4, Sarangay 4, Mangahas 4, Stevens 3, Banal 3, Layug 0, Maniego 0, Ranises 0.
LETRAN 60 — Ke. Alas 13, Dysam 10, Belencion 9, Kr. Alas 9, Taplah 8, Corets 6, Espiritu 3, Almazan 2, Belorio 0.
Quarters: 13-20; 22-36; 37-48; 63-60.