The Arellano University Braves banked on the outside shots of Fred Segura to bring down the La Salle Greenhills Greenies, 71-63, Thursday at the Arena in San Juan.
The Braves, with Segura making 18 points including two triples in the dying minute, stayed in contention for the Final Four of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.
They posted their seventh victory in 15 games at the expense of the Greenies.
With their 7-8 record, they moved a game behind two other contenders, the Lyceum Junior Pirates (7-7) and the San Sebastian Staglets (7-6).
On the other hand, the top-seeded Malayan High School Red Robins took a 64-69 loss to the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, with Esvin Inliwan leading with 17 points in a no-bearing clash.
The Red Robins have solid foothold of the top Final Four berth with their 12-3 record.
Segura only had six points in the last period, and his first trey connected in the last 3:45, giving the Braves a five-point edge, 66-61.
He drained his second triple in the remaining 1:05 to finalize the count for the Braves.
Inand Fornillos shot 17 points for the Greenies, with his back-to-back baskets in the last 6:39 keeping the Greenies with range for the last time, 57-58.
The Greenies setback kept the San Beda Red Cubs(9-5) in contention for the no. 2 seeding.
Finding themselves at the seventh spot heading into the game, the sense of urgency was very much evident for the boys from Legarda as they went on a 24-12 opening salvo.
The Braves, with Kobe Camacho and Nino Tamayo adding 11 points, took charge from the start.
Camacho struck thrice during 9-0 blast in the start of the period, and the Braves went on to grab 21-7 before the second quarter began.
