Mapua Cardinals gains 4th Seed - NCAA

MANILA, Philippines — Rodel Ranises buried four triples in the fourth period as Mapua completed the Final Four cast in the 86th NCAA basketball wars with a 64-59 win over College of St. Benilde on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.

The 5-foot-11 Ranises did not waste any opportunity when his teammates set up plays for him, scoring all his 12 points in the fourth, which allowed the Cardinals to return to the semis after missing it last season.
“He really responded well despite his only limited minutes. That's his role, if he's open he'll shoot,” Mapua coach Chito Victolero said of Ranises, who was 4-of-6 from downtown.

“We're very happy that we accomplished yung two goals namin: to surpass our previous record (6-12) and reach the Final Four,” said Victolero as the Cardinals improved to 9-6. In the first game, Perpetual Help ended a long 23-game losing slide with a lopsided 69-52 win opposite Emilio Aguinaldo College.

In junior action, the EAC Brigadiers (3-12) derailed the entry of the Perpetual Altalettes' to the semis with an 82-71 upset win while La Salle-Greenhills eliminated Mapua, 72-71.