INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) Garvo Lanete sizzled with a career-high 30 points as San Beda held off Mapua, 90-78, on Wednesday, to remain unbeaten in 12 games of the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Struggling with his shots in the first two quarters, the 5-foot-11 Lanete found his mark in the second half, where he unloaded 22 of his output to quell the Cardinals? furious fight-back.

Mapua?s fifth setback in 12 outings benefited Letran, which moved within two games of the fourth-running Cardinals after hammering out a 90-61 rout of Perpetual Help in the first game.

It was the first time the Knights won back-to-back games this season and they pulled off the feat without ace guard Kevin Alas, who was sidelined by a flu.

Alas? older brother, Kristoffer Alas, turned his game up a notch, firing 16 points for the Knights, who scored 30 of the game?s first 37 points to settle the outcome right in the opening period.

Playing the fireman?s role to the hilt, Lanete reeled off five straight points to restore order for the Lions, including back-to-back baskets that put the game to bed, 83-68, with two minutes remaining.

The match was marred by the ejection of Mapua coach Chito Victolero for incessant complaining with a minute left in the third.

In junior action, Baser Amer struck for his second triple double of the season as San Beda downed Mapua, 93-83, to close in on the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

Perpetual Help snapped Letran?s eight-game streak with a 72-69 triumph that forged a three-way tie at second place.

The senior scores:
First Game
LETRAN 90 ?Alas 16, Taplah 14, Cortes 13, Dysam 12, Belencion 12, Espiritu 10, Belorio 4, Ang 3, Rodil 2, Almazan 2, Pantin 2, Alejandro 0.

PERPETUAL HELP 61 ?Vidal 21, Danganan 13, Arboleda 9, Allen 4, Alano 4, Elopre 4, Kintanar 3, Sumera 2, Ynion 1, Salvado 0.

Quarters: 30-7, 52-26, 70-41, 90-61

Second Game

SAN BEDA 90 ? Lanete 30, J. Pascual 13, Daniel 11, dela Rosa 10, Caram 8, Marcelo 8, A. Semerad 6, Villahermosa 2, Sorela 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0

MAPUA 78 ?Mangahas 22, Cornejo 16, Pascual 10, Banal 10, Acosta 9, Sarangay 4, Ranises 3,

Quarters: 24-13, 39-26, 66-57, 90-78