Lions secure twice-to-beat edge vs Chiefs

Games today 8 a.m. – Perpetual Help vs JRU (jrs); 10 a.m. – EAC vs Letran (jrs) 12 nn. – Perpetual Help vs JRU (srs); 2 p.m. – EAC vs Letran (srs) 4 p.m. – LPU vs SSC-R (srs); 6 p.m. – LPU vs SSC-R (jrs)

San Beda leaned on the game-long brilliance of Jayvee Mocon and Robert Bolick as it outlasted Arellano U, 83-72, yesterday to clinch the other twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four of the 93rd NCAA seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Mocon came away with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Bolick finished with 13 points, seven boards and eight assists as they powered the Lions to their 13th win against one loss that also netted them the coveted incentive in the semis.

The win also kept San Beda within sight of the league-leading unbeaten Lyceum of the Philippines University (14-0).

While the Lions swept the Chiefs this season, San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez is focusing on getting back at the only team that beat them this year.

“We’re looking forward to that match against LPU and find a way to beat them,” said Fernandez, whose Lions will take on the Pirates on Oct. 19.

Jeramer Cabanag, back in the roster after sitting out last season, also came through with an impressive 14-point effort as the Lions fended off the Chiefs, who kept the game close majority of the way before yielding to the defending champions’ strong finishing kick.

The Chiefs, who were led by Kent Salado’s 17 points, slid to 5-9 and on the brink of elimination.

Earlier, injury-hit Mapua held St. Benilde to just a point in the last four minutes to go to hack out a 79-69 victory that snapped the Cards’ 11-game losing skid.

Laurenz Victoria and Denniel Aguirre fired 19 and 15 points, respectively, combining for 15 markers in the fourth quarter that fueled the Cardinals’ late charge.

It was Mapua’s second win in 13 outings. The Cards stunned the Letran Knights, 78-75, for their other victory last July 11.

The Cardinals also avenged their 69-74 defeat to the Blazers in the first round last Aug. 8.

St. Benilde fell to 3-11.