Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. — Arellano vs JRU (Jrs)
12 noon — UPHD vs SSC-R (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Arellano vs JRU (Srs)
4 p.m. — UPHD vs SSC-R (Srs)

Mapua strengthened its hold of the fourth spot by downing Emilio Aguinaldo College, 74-65, even as defending champion San Sebastian clinched the second semis berth in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament on Friday at The Arena in San Juan City.

After a shaky start, the Cardinals came alive in the second period behind an airtight defense en route to posting their seventh win in 11 games that boosted their bid for a return trip to the semifinals after missing it last season.

“We had a bad start. Good thing we made up for it through defense in the second period,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero while carrying his baby son, Carlo Miguel.

Aside from getting closer to No. 3 Jose Rizal University (8-3), the Cardinals eliminated the Generals (2-9) and the idle University of Perpetual Help from the semis race (0-10).

Mark De Guzman pumped in a career-high 19 points, including a split in the last 2.2 seconds as the College of St. Benilde propped up its own Final Four bid with a 71-69 win over the Arellano University in the first game.

Arellano’s loss also gave the defending champion San Sebastian College (10-1) a free ride to the semifinals, joining undefeated San Beda College (11-0).

Despite the win – their first back-to-back of the season – the Blazers are already out of the semis picture with a 3-8 record.

In junior action, La Salle-Greenhills handed the Arellano junior Chiefs their 11 straight loss in a 69-54 victory while the Mapua Red Robins secured the fifth place at 6-5 with 76-71 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo Brigadiers, who dropped to 1-11.

The scores:
First Game
ST. BENILDE 71 — Lastimosa 19, Dela Paz 11, Lastimosa 9, Tan 7, Nayve 7, Mccoy 4, Wong 4, Argamino 4, Abolucion 3, Sinco 2, Manalac 1, Amin 0.
ARELLANO 69 — Celada 24, Ciriacruz 12, Lapuz 8, Zulueta 7, Del Rosario 4, Anquilo 4, Acidre 4, Caperal 4, Palma 2.
Quarters: 15-26, 37-34, 56-53, 71-69.

Second Game
MAPUA 74 — Cornejo 15, Mangahas 12, Guillermo 9, Pascual 8, Sarangay 7, Acosta 7, Stevens 5, Banal 5, Parala 4, Ighalo 2, Ranises 0.
EAC 65 — Cubo 15, Jamon 14, Vargas 13, Mendoza 10, Lapitan 3, Chiong 2, Santos 2, Tuazon 2, R. Yaya 2, L. Yaya 2, Diolanto 0, Villegas 0.
Quarters: 8-17; 33-23; 59-43; 74-65.