MANILA, Philippines—A flurry of triples from seldom-used guard Regin Ranises boosted Mapua to a 64-59 victory over St. Benilde Wednesday that gave the Cardinals the last Final Four berth in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
The 5-foot-11 Ranises shot 12 points, all from beyond the arc, in the final period as the Cardinals jacked up their record to 9-6 to join San Beda, San Sebastian and Jose Rizal U in the semifinals.
“Reaching the Final Four is one of our goals this season and I’m happy we achieved it,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero, whose squad missed the semifinals last season after three straight Final Four appearances.
“The challenge was not to wait for the result of the Letran-San Beda game.”
The Knights were still in the running for the Final Four berth with a 6-8 record until the Cardinals finalized the cast Wednesday.
Perpetual Help ended 23 games of futility in the league with a 69-52 drubbing of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first game.
Arnold Danganan buried 15 of his 23 points in the second half, while Jet Vidal finished with 17 as the Altas registered their first victory since winning over the Generals at the end of the first round last season.
The Altas won for the first time in 15 games this season.
Ranises struck with three consecutive triples to restore order for the Cardinals after the Blazers rallied from 31-40 to grab a 46-44 lead midway in the fourth period.
“That’s what’s great about Regin (Ranises). When I send him into the court, he always does his role,” said Victolero of Ranises.
The senior scores:
First Game
PERPETUAL 69—Danganan 23, Vidal 17, Allen 12, Alano 4, Asuncion 3, Sison 3, Arboleda 2, Elopre 2, Sumera 2, Ynion 1, Jolangcob 0, Salvado 0
EAC 52—Vargas 12, Mendoza 9, L. Yaya 8, Chiong 7, Tuazon 7, Cubo 4, Lapitan 2, Diolanto 2, Lim 1, R. Yaya 0, Santos 0, Jamon 0
Quarters: 17-9, 33-21, 50-32, 69-52
Second Game
MAPUA 64—Acosta 14, Mangahas 13, Ranises 12, Sarangay 10, Guillermo 10, Cornejo 4, Parala 1, Banal 0, Pascual 0, Ighalo 0, Maniego 0
ST. BENILDE 59—Lastimosa 16, McCoy 15, Tan 10, Sinco 9, Melocoton 6, Manalac 2, Wong 1, de Guzman 0, Abolucion 0, Amin 0, Argamino 0
Quarters: 15-9, 23-23, 42-40, 64-59
First Game
PERPETUAL 69—Danganan 23, Vidal 17, Allen 12, Alano 4, Asuncion 3, Sison 3, Arboleda 2, Elopre 2, Sumera 2, Ynion 1, Jolangcob 0, Salvado 0
EAC 52—Vargas 12, Mendoza 9, L. Yaya 8, Chiong 7, Tuazon 7, Cubo 4, Lapitan 2, Diolanto 2, Lim 1, R. Yaya 0, Santos 0, Jamon 0
Quarters: 17-9, 33-21, 50-32, 69-52
Second Game
MAPUA 64—Acosta 14, Mangahas 13, Ranises 12, Sarangay 10, Guillermo 10, Cornejo 4, Parala 1, Banal 0, Pascual 0, Ighalo 0, Maniego 0
ST. BENILDE 59—Lastimosa 16, McCoy 15, Tan 10, Sinco 9, Melocoton 6, Manalac 2, Wong 1, de Guzman 0, Abolucion 0, Amin 0, Argamino 0
Quarters: 15-9, 23-23, 42-40, 64-59
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