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NCAA Power Rankings: Week 6

By Ivan Saldajeno

THE "house of chaos" has finally been overcome, and it was the team least expected to solve its mysteries that made it possible. EAC's shocker over Letran turned the tides for this past week's NCAA Power Rankings. Here's the latest update.

1. San Beda Red Lions (6-1)

Letran's loss to EAC on Friday catapults San Beda, which mauled JRU the day before, to the top of the power rankings. For the first time, a changing of the guards took place at the top. In that game, Arth Dela Cruz sizzled for 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting.

2. Letran Knights (7-1)
Ric Arlos
Letran actually had a surprising tough week as prior to the EAC loss, the team had to get through the needle hole (and a bunch of referee whistles) before trampling Lyceum. In case there was a foretelling that Aldin Ayo's "magulong basketball" formula will finally be countered, that would be the Lyceum game. Take note, by the way, that Ayo was suspended for the EAC game.

3. Perpetual Help Altas (5-2)

Perpetual Help bounced back from two straight defeats with a huge win against Arellano. Thanks to a second half run, the Altas found a way to get back to their winning ways.

4. Mapua Cardinals (4-3)
Ric Arlos
Mapua's resurgence continues with a 76-64 downing of CSB. Building a huge lead early on simply showed that the Cardinals can survive without the suspended Coach Atoy Co. However, C.J. Isit dislocated his shoulder and will be out for nearly a month. Josan Nimes, on the other hand, hurt his hamstring but was declared playable for Mapua's next game.

5. Arellano Chiefs (4-3)
Dennis Acosta (file photo)
Arellano just lost steam against Perpetual Help in their match. Ahead at halftime, the Chiefs saw their star point guard Jio Jalalon stifled in the second half, while Bright Akhuetie was just too much for Dioncee Holts.

6. EAC Generals (2-5)
Ric Arlos
And now, the first team to survive the "house of chaos". EAC pulled away in the second half to shock the erstwhile unbeaten Letran. While that assured us of the good-old Final Four format in the semifinals, the Generals have just put up a winning streak. Yes, I have EAC above JRU for this week's power rankings.

7. JRU Heavy Bombers (4-3)

JRU actually had a good start against San Beda, but the team had to be the chasers most of the game. The Heavy Bombers came to as close as five points with less than five minutes left, but the Red Lions were just too tough to handle.

8. San Sebastian Golden Stags (2-6)

San Sebastian finally got back to the win column after a dominating performance from Mike Calisaan put the team ahead of Lyceum. The Golden Stags, however, started the week with a loss to the CSB Blazers, but that was canceled by the victory over the Pirates.

9. CSB Blazers (2-6)

Speaking of CSB, its blowout win against San Sebastian was marked out by a blowout loss to Mapua. Well, the Blazers still chopped the lead to a respectable deficit in the end, but the sluggish start already doomed them.

10. Lyceum Pirates (1-6)

An ugly second quarter output paved the way for Lyceum to blow up its match against San Sebastian. The Pirates' comeback came short, and they have to settle at the minnow spot again for this week's power rankings.

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