MAPUA relied on the hot hands of Allan Mangahas to oust San Sebastian College, 63-54, and clinch the last 'Final Four' berth in the 84th NCAA seniors basketball tournament yesterday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

     Using their deadly slow break game, the Cardinals limited the Stags to 1-of-14 shooting from the field in the third canto, which lifted them to their fourth semifinals appearance in the last five years.

     For the third straight year, the fourth-ranked Mapua will face defending champion San Beda College, the elimination round topnotcher.

     "We will bring back our slow break game sa Final Four. Kung paano sila (Red Lions) magiging pasensiya eh hindi na namin problema yan," said Cardinals coach Leo Isaac.

     Mapua erased a 26-25 halftime lead by San Sebastian when Mangahas waxed hot to erect a 49-28 spread entering the final period.

     The Stags, who called two timeouts but to no avail, had a lone basket courtesy of Froilan Saquillo's jumper at the 6:33 mark.

     Back-to-back triples by Mangahas ignited the 16-0 salvo by the Cardinals which capped their domination in the third canto.

     In the final quarter, San Sebastian was able to threaten, 53-56, via a Raymond Maconocido trey but the Recto-based squad could only score a single point in the last 1:17.

     Neil Pascual scored 17 points and 18 rebounds while Mangahas added 15 points, six boards and four assists for Mapua.

     "Si Allan, may ipapakita pa yan.  Kailangan pa ng konting maturity sa paglalaro," said Isaac, who is in second year with the Cardinals.

     Jim Viray had 11 points while Jimbo Aquino added 10 points for the Stags, which ended their season with three straight losses after posting a season-high eight-game winning streak.

     In the juniors stepladder semis, Letran Squires will face three-time San Sebastian Staglets anew in the finals after edging Jose Rizal Light Bombers, 94-93.

     The scores:

     Mapua (63) – Pascual N. 17, Mangahas 15, Dela Peña 12, Mazo 8, Banal 6, Guillermo 5, Pascual J. 0, Sarangay 0.

     San Sebastian (54) – Viray 11, Aquino 10, Raymundo 9, Maconocido 8, Ballesteros 6, Del Rio 4, Saquillo 4, Delgado 2, Bringas 0, Bulawan 0, Semira 0, Zulueta 0, Najorda 0.

     QS: 13-7; 25-26; 49-28; 63-54.