Arellano University ends the #NCAA101 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 made sure to deliver 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 Mapua’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 Mapua 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 14.9 ticks remaining and the defending champs having the possession, the twice-to-beat incentive seemed fading away for Coach Chico Manabat and his boys– not until the Chiefs forced a turnover on Yam Concepcion after receiving the inbound pass.  

After getting fouled by Concepcion in the ensuing play, Ongotan went perfect from the free throw line, upping their lead to four and ultimately sealing the deal for Arellano. 

Ongotan finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, while Abiera extracted 12 points and 7 rebounds in the winning effort. 

On the other side, newcomer big man Drex Delos Reyes was the lone player in double-digit scoring for Coach Randy Alcantara, dropping 12 points and 10 rebounds with a steal and a block in a season-high performance. 

Group A second placer Arellano will face Group B third seed Letran in the crossover quarterfinals round with a twice-to-beat benefit, while Mapúa–slotted down as Group A’s third seed– will have to beat Group B second placer Benilde twice in order to reach the NCAA Season 101 final four.