By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE late-season charge of the Arellano Chiefs in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) continued yesterday as they defeated the Mapua Cardinals, 81-64, to remain in contention for the last remaining semifinal spot for Season 93.

Winding up with a 9-9 record with their victory in their final game in the elimination round, the Chiefs earned at least a playoff for the lone Final Four slot left.

They now await how the Letran Knights (8-9) and San Sebastian Stags (8-9) would fare in their respective final elimination games.

Letran was to play already-eliminated College of St. Benilde Blazers later yesterday while San Sebastian is set to play also-rans Perpetual Help Altas later this week.

Best-case scenario for Arellano is for both Letran and San Sebastian to lose their games for automatic entry. If not, all three of them go in a playoff.

Against the Cardinals yesterday, the Chiefs made a good account of themselves once again even sans floor general Kent Salado, who is out for the season after suffering an MCL injury two games prior.

Arellano did not have the slow start it had in the previous game and were steady right from the get-go.

Mapua made it hard for the Chiefs early on but the latter found ways to stay ahead, 17-13, at the end of the opening frame.

The two teams went back and forth to start the second period before Arellano got wind and propelled itself for some separation by the halftime break, 39-28.

Arellano continued to lord it over the Cardinals in the third frame behind guard Levi dela Cruz, Lervin Flores and Zach Nicholls.

The Chiefs built a 16-point cushion, 58-42, in the first eight minutes after which Mapua went on a 6-0 run to slice their deficit, 58-48, at the end of the third.

Mapua started the fourth aggressively but Arellano stayed on top of things.

The Legarda-based Chiefs held a 15-point lead, 70-55, at the halfway point of the payoff period.

They then extended their advantage to 21 points, 76-55, in the next two minutes and just brought the win home thereafter.

Dela Cruz paced Arellano with 20 points and five assists.

Flores and Nichols added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the Chiefs.

Christian Buñag, meanwhile, led Mapua with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

“This win streak (four straight) of ours could not have come at a better time. The boys have shown a lot character of late and it has allowed us to be in this position for a playoff,” said winning coach Jerry Codiñera after their win.

“We are partly relieved that we still have a chance to advance when we could have easily been eliminated. We have to take care of business from our end and let’s see what happens,” the Arellano coach added.

With the loss, Mapua finished its season at last place in the 10-team field with a 3-15 record.

Meanwhile, in the first game, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals ended its campaign on a winning note, beating Perpetual Help, 83-81.

Jerome Garcia led the Generals (7-11) in the victory over the Altas (4-13) with 22 points.

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