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NCAA Power Rankings: Week 5

By Ivan Saldajeno

WEEK 5, or virtually Matchday 6, is done in the NCAA. How did your teams fare this past week? Check this out.

1. Letran Knights (6-0)
Dennis Acosta
Letran passed what would be its final acid test on paper by taking down Arellano, 77-68, behind Kevin Racal's 24-point performance. The Knights are now left with a relatively light schedule, making a 9-0 first round sweep really possible.

2. San Beda Red Lions (5-1)

San Beda, on the other hand, passed its own acid test with an 83-81 squeaker over Perpetual Help. In a game where the foreign player battle between Ola Adeogun and Bright Akhuetie was the main focus, it was Arth Dela Cruz's near triple-double that led the locals' attack for the Red Lions.

3. JRU Heavy Bombers (4-2)

With Perpetual Help and Arellano losing, JRU, thanks to a blowout win against CSB, moved up two notches in the power rankings. Do expect a wild ride to the Final Four from here on.

4. Perpetual Help Altas (4-2)

Despite losing to San Beda, Perpetual Help remains fourth in the power rankings. The Altas still gave the Red Lions a hard time before conceding. It all boiled down, however, to Scottie Thompson's missed free throws.

5. Arellano Chiefs (4-2)
Dennis Acosta
Arellano just found the "house of chaos" too creepy to visit. The Chiefs fell three spots to fifth place in the power rankings after seeing their four-game winning streak come to an end against the Knights.

6. Mapua Cardinals (3-3)
Ric Arlos
Meanwhile, Mapua finally notched a winning streak this season. However, the Cardinals had to withstand a late Lyceum Pirates run to move up to 3-3. That Pirates run? They just chopped a 43-point lead to just six.

7. EAC Generals (1-5)

Guess what. Everyone now has a W in NCAA Season 91! EAC finally barged to the win column with a 77-71 win against San Sebastian. The Generals are now starting their own revolution, and this could give the NCAA some spice.

8. Lyceum Pirates (1-5)

Although falling short, Lyceum really made a heart-stopping moment against Mapua. In just a blink of an eye, a 43-point deficit became just six with some eternity of basketball left. The Pirates just lost steam, but according to Assistant Coach Jeff Perlas, Coach Topex Robinson, who in a rare moment got upset at his players when they let the Cardinals build that 43-point cushion, was proud of them for the fight back.

9. San Sebastian Golden Stags (1-5)

San Sebastian still put up a fight before conceding the win to EAC. However, with a four-game losing streak, Coach Rodney Santos should act now if the Golden Stags want to stay in contention

10. CSB Blazers (1-5)

CSB was really cold against JRU, and that pulled the team down to the cellar of the power rankings. Jonathan Grey acknowledged the need to bounce back by apologizing to the Benildean community after the game.

(Note: The opinions of the writer do not reflect those of Dugout Philippines.)