Mapua Cardinals in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament. –NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Mapua weathered Arellano’s fightback in the homestretch and sealed the top seeding in the Final Four with a 75-69 victory on Saturday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.

The Cardinals squandered a 20-point advantage and relied on hustle and steady plays in the end in sweeping the second round to wrap up their elimination stint with a commanding 15-3 record.

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Chris Hubilla and Clint Escamis, last season’s MVP, tallied 12 points each and Marc Cuenco added 11 as the Cardinals forged a semifinal showdown with the fourth-ranked Lyceum Pirates armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.

READ: NCAA: Clint Escamis hits buzzer-beating 3 as Mapua stuns Benilde

“I’m very proud of my players. We are here at the top because we really worked hard this season,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara.

They were in the same situation as last season after topping the 18-game elimination phase only to lose the title to the San Beda Red Lions.

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“It shows that you can never relax even if you’re No. 1, especially in the Final Four. You have to double or triple your efforts when it comes to preparing against your opponent,” said Alcantara.

While the Cardinals avoided the reigning champion and third-ranked Lions, who arranged a lose-and-go-home scenario opposite No. 2 and twice-to-beat College of St. Benilde Blazers, Alcantara is expecting a rugged fight to the finish against the Pirates.

“We know how tough and battle-ready Lyceum is. They’re (Pirates) coming off a victory against the Blazers in their last game (in the eliminations) and we should be ready,” said Alcantara.

The Final Four is scheduled Nov. 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

READ: NCAA: Streaking Mapua beats Perpetual, boosts twice-to-beat bid

Comfortably ahead 55-35 in the third, the Cardinals seemed headed to a clear victory before the Chiefs unloaded their weapons.

Tmac Ongotan and JL Capulong conspired with Ernest Geronimo in wiping out the Mapua advantage down to two approaching the final two minutes.

Escamis drove inside and drew the defense before finding an open Hubilla, who sank the mid-range jumper, creating a breather, 71-67.

Ongotan’s pullup jumper cut it down but a bungled attempt by Cyril Hernal with 39.3 seconds remaining extinguished Arellano’s hopes altogether as Escamis and JC Recto pegged the final count with insurance free throws.

Geronimo had 15 points and Ongotan contributed 13 for the Chiefs, who closed their campaign with a 7-11 record.

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

Quarterscores: 22-10, 34-24, 57-44, 75-69