Twin results shuffle NCAA standings yet again

Mapua’s Clint Escamis.-NCAA PHOTO

The shuffle at the upper half of the standings continues in the NCAA Season 100 basketball tournament.

Mapua’s 77-71 victory over Arellano on Wednesday at San Juan Arena pushed the Cardinals up to No. 2.

It was the third straight victory for Mapua, who rose to 6-2 (win-loss) in the standings. That, coupled by Letran’s defeat to San Beda on Tuesday, which dropped the Knights to 5-3, rearranged the top of the leaderboard.

St. Benilde, however, remains firmly pinned to the No. 1 spot with a 6-1 card.

Clint Escamis came through for the Cardinals and had another stats-stuffing performance with 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. Rookie Chris Hubilla added 15 points and eight rebounds.

“I’m thankful that coach kept me in the game even when my shots weren’t falling,” Escamis said. “I’m thankful [because] I delivered for the team.”

Lyceum scores

The shuffle continued in the middle of the standings where Perpetual lost its early foothold on the top four after falling to Lyceum, 64-62.

The loss will sting for the Altas, who were facing a Pirates squad missing key players and who had to rely on its second stringers to pull off the victory.

Renz Villegas had 18 points while Jonathan Daileg chipped in 10, both off the bench, while Neil Moralejo iced the count with a stunning triple in the dying seconds.

“I give credit to my second team; they kept us alive,” said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.

The result tied both squads at 4-4.

Hotshot Perps rookie Mark Gojo Cruz dropped 14 points, five rebounds and three assists but to no avail.