The Letran Knights and the La Salle Green Archers prevailed over separate rivals over the weekend to stay in the hunt for quarterfinal seats in the 16th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament at the at the St. Placid gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.
The Knights won by default over St. Joseph College of Bulacan while the Green Archers got 10 points from Christian Manaytay as they clobbered the National University-A Bulldogs.
This earned the Knights their fifth straight win while the Green Archers improved to their win-loss record to 3-2 in Group B.
In the junior contest, the La Consolacion College-Manila Baby Blue Royals, with Yman Urbano making 19 points, toppled Pasig Catholic College, 74-64, to march to their fifth straight triumph in Group A.
Paco Citizens Academy Foundation turned back Diliman Preparatory School 87-76, with Dustin Aguado dishing out 12 points.
This handed PCAF their third triumph in six outings in Group B.
Xavier School stopped St. Michael College of Laguna, 57-54, to post win no. 2 in Group A to pull even with San Beda-Rizal, which won by default over La Salle Greenhills.
The Knights want to make up for their disappointment last July when they lost to San Beda, 79-56, in the finals of the 24th Fr. Martin Cup Summer Basketball Tournament.
Clint Doliguez had 18 points for the Red Lions. He made a lay-up in the second quarter to give San Beda its biggest lead, 59-41.
With the victory, San Beda captured another offseason crown before the start of NCAA Season 94 where they will be defending the crown.
San Beda lost to Ateneo in the finals of the Filoil preseason cup.
Jeremer Cabanag had 12 points for San Beda in the championship game.
San Beda won seven out of its eight matches in the offseason tournament including an 80-59 victory over St. Francis of Assisi College in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals San Beda beat reigning champion Diliman College, 70-57, with Calvin Oftana scoring 13 points.