University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and San Beda University flaunted their might as they made hammer contrasting wins to advance to the Final Four of National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Altas sent Jose Rizal University packing, 81-74, while the Red Lions displayed their championship form to rip Lyceum of the Philippines University, 91-67, to storm in the semifinals of the country’s oldest collegiate basketball league.

The Altas will face the winner Arellano University and Letran College in the best-of-three semifinal series while the red Lions will tackle the survivor in the quarterfinal duel between College of Saint Benilde and reigning champion Mapua University in their own semis series.

Semifinal battles are set to start on Tuesday.

Mark Gojo Cruz dropped 23 points with two steals and two blocks while Patrick Sleat chipped in 14 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals for the Altas, who refused to crack under tremendous pressure from a gutsy Heavy Bombers squad in the crucial stretch to pull off the victory.

“We made it to the Final Four, but the job is not yet done,” said Perpetual coach Olsen Racela, who is eager to become the first coach to lead the Altas to the title.

Sean Salvador, who sparked a late-game rally, fired 18 points while Allen Laurenaria chipped in 16 markers for the Heavy Bombers, who had to go through Emilio Aguinaldo College to make it to the Last Eight.

In the second game, Yukien Andrada dropped 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Red Lions back to the Final Four.

It was an easy win for the Red Lions as they were hardly threatened by the Pirates after flaunting their tough defensive muscles early on.

“We just locked in and focused on team defense,” said San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta, who also drew 15 points from Bismarck Lina, and 13 markers from Bryan Sajonia.

Ato Barba wrapped up his collegiate career with 13 points while Renz Villegas added 11 for the Pirates.