Cardinals rout Altas to seize Final 4 berth

MANILA, Philippines -- The Mapua Cardinals have clinched the first Final Four spot of the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament after drubbing the Perpetual Help Altas, 69-53, Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Mapua is going back to the semifinals after failing to do so last season.

It was a wire-to-wire affair for the Cardinals, as their lead grew to as much as 22 points, 58-36, following a pair of free throws by Jopet Soriano in the 8:35 mark of the fourth quarter.

It was enough cushion for the Cardinals as they successfully quelled comeback efforts by Perpetual in the quarter.

The closest the Altas got to was 17, 50-67, after a layup by Christian Pagaran.

The Cardinals are now at solo first with an 13-3 win-loss record.

The Altas, however, dropped to 8-8, dimming their Final Four hopes.

Clint Escamis once again showed the way for Mapua with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and six steals. He was followed by Warren Bonifacio with 11 markers.

Art Roque was the lone Perpetual player in double figures with 13 points and 12 rebounds.