INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Defending champions San Sebastian College staved off an upset as it subdued still-winless University of Perpetual Help, 72-63, while the Jose Rizal University entered the Final four for the fourth straight, Monday in the 86th NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Guard Pamboy Raymundo propelled the Stags to a major turnaround in the fourth quarter with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists as they trailed most of the way and by as many as 10 points in the first half.

San Sebastian shrugged off a slow start anew to solicit its 11th win with a lone loss to remain at idle second behind flawless San Beda.

Jose Rizal University survived Adrian Celada and Arellano University, 67-64.

The Bombers, who are idle at third with a 9-3 card, completed a big play from Nchotu Njei and Mark Lopez with 20.6 ticks left that gave them a three point lead after the Chiefs managed to trim a double digit deficit to just one, 65-64.

Hotshooting Celada finished with 30 points for the Chiefs, whose squad's hopes of a Final four berth were crushed by the Bombers in the defeat.