Lions, Chiefs dispute top seeding

MANILA, Philippines - Assured of the twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four, San Beda shoots for the top seeding as it collides with second running Arellano U even as Perpetual Help goes for at least a playoff for the last semis berth against ousted San Sebastian in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

With a 13-4 card, the Red Lions can actually drop their final elims match to the Chiefs and still clinch the semis incentive. But the reigning four-peat champions are expected to go flat out for the victory in their 2:30 p.m. clash with the Legarda-based squad to secure the top seeding in the Final Four beginning next week.

But the 12-4 Chiefs, enjoying their finest campaign in years, are also raring to put one over the Red Lions and snatch the top spot for a duel with the No. 4 team in the semis.

The Altas, meanwhile, hope to formalize their stint in the next round although they remain wary of the Stags, out of it all with a 5-11 slate but who could play the spoilers’ role against the Final Four contenders. SSC takes on St. Benilde, another semis aspirant, at the close of the double round elims next week.

Gametime is at 12:30 p.m.

Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U share third place at 11-6 while St. Benilde is just half-a-game behind at 10-6 with the Blazers hoping to sweep their last two games against the also-ran Mapua Cardinals and Stags.

Meanwhile, Mapua forfeited its second straight game yesterday, allowing Jose Rizal to tie Perpetual at third.

The Cardinals were left with only four players in Jerome Canaynay, back from a one-game suspension, Jessie Saitanan, Joseph Eriobu and Jeson Cantos with CJ Isit, Ronnel Villasenor and Darrel Magsigay, the other players who either escaped suspensions in the aftermatch of the Mapua-EAC brawl last Sept. 22 or down with injuries.

Isit is still nursing a fractured right left cheek bone while Villasenor and Magsigay, also back from a one-game ban, sat out due to back pains and acute tomillo, respectively.

The rest – Leo Gabo, Jomari Tubiano, Justin Serrano, James Galoso, Exeqiel Biteng and Andrew Estrella – remain suspended.

Mapua, which also forfeited its game against Letran Monday, thus fell to 4-13 (win-loss).

Earlier, Letran routed Lyceum, 77-52, to improve to 8-9 while dropping the Pirates to 6-11.          

The scores:

Letran 77 – Ruaya 19, Cruz 13, Nambatac 8, Gabawan 8, Singontiko 7, Tambeling 6, Calvo 4, Luib 4, Castro 2, Saldua 2, Apreku 2, Publico 2, Quinto 0.

Lyceum 52 – Gabayni 17m Taladua 14, Bulawan 9, Lesmoras 5, Mbida 3, Elmeraj 2, Soliman 2, Wilson 0, Zamora 0, Malabanan 0, Maconocido 0.

Quarterscores: 20-16; 32-26; 58-43; 77-52