DEFENDING champion Mapua took down Group A leader Perpetual Help, 77-61, on Friday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena on Friday.
Fresh off a 78-73 win over Lyceum a few days ago, the Cardinals kept their momentum going, sending the Altas to their second straight loss.
The Cardinals improved their win-loss record to 6-5 won-lost good for second spot.
Perpetual remained atop the ladder despite tripping to an 8-3 card.
Clint Escamis fired a game-high 18 points and made five assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Cyrus Cuenco added 13 points and Yam Concepcion scored 11.
Perpetual, on the other hand, had only one player breaching double digits in scoring.
Josiah Alcantara topscored for the Altas with 10 points, Patrick Sleat scored nine and Mark Gojo Cruz added eight.