SAN Beda University overpowered first-round tormentor Emilio Aguinaldo College with a vengeful 89-59 victory on Wednesday to plant one foot to NCAA Season 100 Final Four at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
Emman Tagle and Bismark Lina came through from inside and out by firing 20 and 18 points, respectively, as the Lions nailed their 10th win against five defeats and at least a playoff for a semis berth.
It would need just to beat one of the defending champion’s last three elimination round foes—Letran, College of St. Benilde and San Sebastian—for it to advance to the playoff phase.
“This win is very important to our confidence,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta.
It was sweet revenge for San Beda, which succumbed to EAC when the two first collided in the first round, 68-55, last Sept. 17.
The difference from this one was they have an additional big body inside in the bullstrong Lina, who had to skip most of the opening round to fully recover from an injury.
“If anything, you have a big man, it really helps,” said Escueta.
The loss sent the Generals slipping to to a share of no. 4 with Letran and Lyceum of the Philippines U with a 7-8 record apiece.
Unlike in their first encounter, the Generals were buried early on this as the Lions and never really got their bearings back.
Still, EAC could console itself with the fact that it remained on track to snatch that hotly contested last berth to the Final Four.
Meanwhile, Mapua relied on Marc Cuenco’s hot hands as it ripped University of Perpetual Help apart, 71-57, to extend its streak to six.
Cuenco waxed hot from beyond the arc where he drained a whopping six booming treys and finished with a game-high 21 points as the Cardinals continued to remain untouchable in the second round in six games to improve to 12-3.
That kept Mapua half a game behind pace-setting College of St. Benilde (12-2) and two games ahead of No. 3 San Beda (10-5).
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa coaches na pinag-shoo-shooting kami every practice,” said Cuenco.
The Altas fainted to 6-10.
12 noon- JRU vs LPU
2:30 p.m.- CSB vs Letran
