College of Saint Benilde clobbered winless Mapua University, 73-64, to get the top spot in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan yesterday.

Miggy Corteza led the Blazers with seven points and four rebounds while Migs Oczon dropped 14 points and eight boards as they add to the woes of the slumping Cardinals.

They played tough and I'm very happy to beat them because this is a Final Four team no matter what their record says.

JC Cullar's triple with four minutes and nine seconds left in the game gave Saint Benilde its biggest lead of the game, 65-53.

Saint Benilde coach Charles Tiu said the team kept its guard up in the entire game despite playing against a winless team in Mapua.

"I respect coach Randy Alcantara and their staff. They played tough and I'm very happy to beat them because this is a Final Four team no matter what their record says," Tiu said.

"I thought we were in control pretty much the whole game yet we couldn't pull away."

Aside from Corteza and Oczon, Ladis Lepalam scored 10 points and five rebounds for the Blazers as they sit on top with a 6-1 win-loss record.

Rence Nocum led Mapua with 15 points in a losing effort as Mapua sinks to its eighth straight loss of the season.

Meanwhile, Letran College snapped a two-game losing streak after a 77-69 win over San Sebastian College.

King Caralipio scored 13 points and eight rebounds while Louie Sangalang scored 11 after a two-game suspension.

The Knights now hold a 3-3 win-loss record.

Raymart Escobido led San Sebastian, who dropped to a 2-4 card, with 18 points.

The scores: