WEST Negros University and Arellano University gained victories at the start of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League zonal qualifying tournament at the WNU Gym Wednesday night.

The Mustangs coasted to a 93-77 victory over Mindanao champion Holy Trinity College Wildcats, after the Chiefs, fifth placers in the NCAA, survived upset-conscious University of San Carlos, 79-74.

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Alfie Villariza, Jeff Jacinto and Jetric Sumido finished in double-figures as the Mustangs prevailed despite an error-prone performance.

The margin for error becomes smaller for the Mustangs when they take on the USC Warriors Thursday. The Chiefs are heavily favored to cruise past the Wildcats in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

A win by the Chiefs and the Mustangs will guarantee the two squads spots to the Sweet 16 tournament.

Defeat, however, could put the Mustangs in a must-win situation against the Chiefs on Friday.

"We cannot expect to win if we play the way we did tonight," said WNU coach Troy Sarabia, who rued the several turnovers committed by his team in the third quarter.

Interestingly, the Mustangs took their biggest lead at 20 points in the third period, where Sarabia opted for a more guard-laden lineup of Villariza, Jacinto, Rolly Jaca and Robert Lauron.

The Mustangs applied the press but it took awhile for them to wear down the Wildcats.

Sumido announced his return by drilling in back-to-back triples for a 69-49 bubble late in the third quarter.

The Mustangs inexplicably lost their focus anew, allowing the Wildcats to come within 70-77 on Eric Lamanilao's triple with seven minutes remaining.

Jacinto quelled the rally with a triple and a fastbreak lay-up. A jumper by Villariza pushed the lead to 12 and a two-handed dunk by Raul Suyod all but wrapped up the victory, 90-75, with 3:05 left.

John Tayongtong starred for the Chiefs with 11 of his team's last 18 points in the final five minutes.

The Chiefs trailed for most of the way as the Warriors ran the fastbreak at every opportunity.

Adrian Celada kept Arellano in the game with 14 of a team-high 21 points coming in the first half, where the Chiefs trailed by as many as eight points.

"I told the players at halftime that we are not here to take a vacation, but to compete" said Arellano coach Junjie Ablan. "We were very sluggish in the first half. The players were not moving well enough. Good thing they responded in the second half."

Tayongtong sank a triple that beat the shotclock for a 78-72 lead with 12 seconds remaining, after June Cantonao made back-to-back treys to cut the deficit, 72-75, with 31 seconds left.

The Warriors grabbed a 62-59 cushion heading into the final five minutes after a triple by Giovanni Padillo. But the Chiefs unleashed a 12-4 spurt, capped by an undergoal stab by Celada for a 71-66 advantage in the last 1:20.

Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella, who is also Philippine Olympic Committee chairman, graced the opening ceremonies together with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas official Robert Uy and Negros Basketball Association president Oscar "Dodong" Bascon.

The Scores:

First Game

Arellano 79 - Celada 21, G. Ciriacruz 14, Tayongtong 13, Rivera 9, Agustin 7, Virtudazo 6, I. Ciriacruz 5, Dimla 2, Miranda 2, Reducto 0, Anquilo 0.

USC 74 - Padillo 23, Cantonao 14, Hermosa 13, Gallarde 7, Panerio 5, Codilla 4, Bautista 4, Cortes 4, Bakker 0.

Quarters: 13-17, 29-33, 52-50, 79-74

Second Game

WNU 93 - Villariza 15, Sumido 14, Jacinto 14, Suyod 9, Jaca 9, Merin 7, Catalino 6, Javelona 6, Dapar 6, Lauron 4, Agudelo 3.

HTC 77 - Roxas 19. Lamanilao 15, Pragados 14, Landicho 8, Masiana 8, Esguerra 6, Masaglang 4, Versoza 2, De Mesa 1.

Quarters 25-18, 48-38, 73-60, 93-77