Ernjay Geronimo had reasons to shout for joy as Arellano stole the twice-to-beat advantage from Mapua. NCAA
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA––Arellano deprived Mapua of its last gasp to even have a shot at the top seed for Group A ahead of the NCAA men's basketball quarterfinals after snatching a 62-58 win in their last group stage match-up on Friday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan City.

T-Mc Ongotan caught fire in time for the Chiefs when he sparked the game-ending 9-0 run with four straight points that cut the Cardinals' lead, at 58-53 before Ongotan's baskets, down to one, 58-57, with 1:28 remaining.

Ernjay Geronimo then grabbed the rebound off Cyrus Cuenco's miss and found Renzo Abiera open for the stepback three that gave Arellano the lead, 60-58, with 1:04 to go.

Ongotan then stole the ball from Earl Sapasap in the next play, but he kept the door open for Mapua as he committed a shotclock violation with 16.5 seconds left.

Ongotan, though, made up for the crucial turnover by picking Yam Concepcion's tough pass and made two free throws with 11.3 seconds left that upped the Chiefs' lead to four, the minimum winning margin needed for them to steal the second seed and twice-to-beat advantage from the Cardinals.

Already conceding the loss, which effectively gave Perpetual Help the top seed without the need to beat Lyceum on Sunday, Mapua still tried to score a basket to seal the second seed, but Cuenco missed a floater and Concepcion muffed the putback as time expired.

Ongotan finished with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block for Arellano, which only needs to beat Group B's third seed Letran once to make a Final Four return.

Abiera added 12 points, seven rebounds, and one assist.

Drex Delos Reyes put up 13 points, 10 rebounds, one block, and one steal for the Cardinals, who, after making a last dash to steal the top seed from the Altas, still dropped to the third seed and will need to beat the College of St. Benilde Blazers, the second seed in Group B, twice to keep their title defense alive.

The scores:

ARELLANO 62 – Ongotan 15, Abiera 12, Geronimo 10, Valencia 8, Libang 4, Hernal 4, Demetria 4, Buenaventura 3, Vinoya 2, Borromeo 0, Camay 0, Langit 0, Cabotaje 0, Acop 0

MAPÚA 58 – Delos Reyes 13, Gonzales 9, Recto 9, Cuenco 7, Sapasap 6, Concepcion 5, Escamis 4, Nitura 3, Igliane 2, Lazarte 0, Ryan 0, Callangan 0

Quarter scores: 14-20, 25-33, 45-45, 62-58