NCAA: Arellano clinches second seed with disposal of Mapúa

Arellano University ends the NCAA 101 classification round as Group A’s second seed and will enter the quarterfinals carrying a twice-to-beat incentive. This, after the upset-seeking Chiefs took home a 62-58 win over Mapúa on Friday behind collective efforts led by Sorsogueño star T-Mc Ongotan, who delivered another timely display of heroics. The Chiefs needed not only a win but a margin of three or more points to unseat Mapúa from the second spot due to their identical 7-6 records and head-to-head quotient, and it was Ongotan’s cool and composed free throws in the game’s dying moments that sealed the deal.

It started at the last-two-minute mark, when the cat-quick guard from Bulan, Sorsogon scored a crucial off-balance layup from a coast-to-coast fast break to cut Mapúa’s lead to three, 58-55. After a defensive stop on the other side, Ongotan demanded the ball, turned on the jets, and got rewarded with two free throws– which he both converted– after drawing a foul on Mapúa’s JC Recto. Another empty possession for Mapúa and Arellano smelled blood, getting into their rhythm late as versatile forward Renzo Abiera drained a big-time step-back triple, putting the Chiefs up by two with a minute and change left on the game clock. Arellano’s objective was to win by three or more, and so with 14.

Arellano University ends the classification round as Group A’s second seed, earning a twice-to-beat incentive for the quarterfinals with a 62-58 victory over Mapúa.

GMA Network — 2025-11-21

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