Letran shuts door on CSB

What was expected to be a trouble-free path to their respective targets turned out to be a day to forget for Arellano and St. Benilde.

MARK Romero of St. Benilde goes for a layup off Chester Saldua of Letran in yesterday’s match at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Lyceum spoiled Arellano’s outright bid for the top seeding with a hard-earned 101-96 win last night in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

But the more painful loss came a couple of hours earlier when Letran subdued St. Benilde, 64-57, to end the Blazers’ semifinal bid.

The unexpected results finalized the Final Four cast with Perpetual Help joining Jose Rizal U, San Beda and Arellano U.

But the Final Four seeding will be determined tomorrow with the Lions and the Chiefs, already with a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four, disputing the No. 1 spot while the Bombers and Altas, who both finished with 12-6 records, squaring for No. 3.

The Blazers were reduced to tears as the final buzzer sounded as they bungled a chance to forge a playoff with Perpetual Help for the last Final Four berth. Still, the Blazers’ 11-win season is their best in recent memory as they came close to ending an 11-year Final Four drought.

Mark Romero’s free throws with over a minute to go cut St. Benilde’s deficit to 57-59, but it turned out to be the Blazers’ last stand.

The Knights got into their offensive flow early, building double digit leads in the second period, before Rey Nambatac and Mark Cruz came through with crucial free throws to preserve the win.

“We wanted a win to end the season as a sendoff to our seniors (Ford) Ruaya and (Jamil) Gabawan,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia.

Ruaya finished with 14 points, including 12 in the first half.

The Chiefs also got off to a flat start and the Pirates quickly posted leads of as many as 21 points early in the final period.

But Arellano rallied behind Jiovani Jalalon and Zach Nicholls, before Keith Agovida canned two foul shots to trim the gap, 96-94, with 57 seconds left. The Pirates though put the clamps on John Pinto on the Chiefs’ final play as they finished the season at 7-11.

The scores

First Game

LETRAN 64—Ruaya 14, Gabawan 13, Publico 9, Cruz 8, Nambatac 8, Saldua 6, Calvo 4, Apreku 2, Tambeling 0, Luib 0, Quinto 0, Singontiko 0.

1. BENILDE 57—Romero 20, Taha 12, Grey 9, Sinco 5, Bartolo 4, Saavedra 3, Ongteco 3, Nayve 1, Argamino 0, Altamirano 0.

Quarters: 26-12, 41-27, 53-44, 64-57

Second Game

LYCEUM 101—Gabayni 22, Zamora 17, Taladua 16, Malabanan 14, Baltazar 12, Bulawan 10, Soliman 5, Mbida 5.

ARELLANO 96—Jalalon 17, Holts 16, Agovida 16, Ciriacruz 15, Nicholls 14, Pinto 7, Enriquez 4, Gumaru 3, Salcedo 2, Palma 2, Bangga 0, Caperal 0, Ortega 0, Cadavis 0.

Quarters: 29-20, 51-42, 78-59, 101-96