Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. — San Sebastian vs Letran (Jrs)
4 p.m. — San Beda vs Jose Rizal (Jrs)

Mapua unleashed a strong second half assault to beat Perpetual Help, 79-65, in a game marred by a bench-clearing incident on Sunday in the NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Rodel Ranises, Mark Acosta, and Erwin Cornejo conspired in a torrid third quarter attack as the Cardinals broke free from a tight ball game to gain a share of the lead with opening day winners defending champion San Sebastian and San Beda.

Trailing 35-36 after the half, the Cardinals put the game away after Acosta's triple sparked a 21-8 run bridging the third and fourth quarter to seize the momentum and the 58-48 lead.

They were never in trouble after that although the game was stopped after Perpetual’s Arnold Danganan and Mapua’s Andretti Stevens engaged in a near fistfight that triggered a bench-clearing incident with the Cardinals up by eight, 58-50, early in the fourth.

Danganan was assessed with a flagrant foul after elbowing Stevens on his way down after he was tripped. Cardinals' Ray Cabrera and Narr Garay were thrown out for leaving the bench. They are both expected to be meted with automatic one-game suspensions.

"We have to be consistent from first quarter to fourth quarter. That's what I told my boys," said Cardinals coach Chito Victolero, whose squad is looking to improve its sixth place finish last year.

The victory negated Danganan's impressive debut with the Altas. Danganan, who played for the STI Olympians in the NAASCU, fired game-high 23 points while grabbing five rebounds.

Acosta led the Cardinals with 14 points while Cornejo had 12 and Ranises and Jason Pascual joined hands for 21 as the Cardinals made it six in a row counting their five-game winning streak at close of the season last year.

In junior play, the Perpetual Help Altalettes banked on the 24-point production of RP Youth standout Joshua Alolino to down the Mapua Red Robins, 89-85, while Emilio Aguinaldo Brigidiers turned back the Arellano junior Chiefs, 68-60, for their first victories in as many outings.

In the second game, the Arellano University Chiefs nearly blew an 18-point lead, but hung tough in the end to hack out a thrilling 82-72 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals.

First Game
MAPUA 79 — Acosta 14, Cornejo 13, Ranises 11, Pascual 10, Stevens 6, Sarangay 6, Parala 6, Guillermo 6, Mangahas 4, Banal 3, Ighalo 0, Cabrera 0, Maniego 0.
PERPETUAL 65 — Danganan 23, Vidal 16, Ynion 7, Allen 6, Alano 6, Sumera 4, Arboleda 2, Elopre 1, Sison 0, Kintanar 0, Asuncion 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 35-36, 55-46, 79-65

Second Game
ARELLANO 82 — Celada 22, Ciriacruz 12, Casino 11, Anquilio 7, Acidre 7, Caperal 6, Lapuz 5, Zulueta 5, Advincula 4, Tayongtong 4, Del Rosario 1
EAC 72 — Cubo 20, Yaya R. 19, Mendoza 16, Santos 5, Lapitan 4, Chiong 4, Vargas 2, Monteclaro 2, Yaya L. 0, Diolanto 0, Villegas 0, Tuazon 0
Quarters: 18-12, 41-26, 58-50, 82-72