MAPUA earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Season 100 men's Final Four after beating Arellano University, 75-69, at the end of the elimination round Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Wary of the Chiefs' upset bid, the Cardinals took control of the match from the get-go and then turned back their opponents' repeated endgame rallies.
Mapua finished with a 15-3 record overall to edge out consistent league-leader College of St. Benilde as the top-seeded team heading to the semis.
It will be the second straight season the Cardinals will be ranked No. 1 in the Final Four.
Badly hurt by its 82-81 loss to host Lyceum last Friday, the Blazers were relegated to second overall with their 14-4 standing.
Mapua will take on Lyceum, as Benilde faces reigning champion San Beda in the Final Four set for Saturday next week.
Both the Cardinals and Blazers enjoy a twice-to-beat edge in the semis.
Meanwhile, Arellano finished with a 7-11 record, a marked improvement from last season where the Chiefs ended up last with a 2-16 slate.
The Scores:
MAPUA 75 - Hubilla 12, Escamis 12, Cuenco 11, Recto 8, Garcia 8, Mangubat 7, Concepcion 6, Bancale 5, Igliane 3, Jabonete 3, Abdulla 0, Fermin 0.
ARELLANO 69 - Geronimo 15, Ongotan 13, Capulong 12, Hernal 10, Borromeo 7, Camay 3, Miller 3, Vinoya 2, Abiera 2, Rosalin 2, De Leon 0, Estacio 0, Espiritu 0, Libang 0.
Quarters: 22-10; 34-24; 57-44; 75-69.
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