Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
12 noon – Lyceum vs Perpetual (s)
2 p.m. – Arellano vs JRU (s)
4 p.m. – Letran vs Mapua (s)
University of Perpetual Help seeks the third semifinal berth even as defending champion Letran faces a must-win situation when the two teams take on separate foes today in NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Altas, with three chances, face the skidding Lyceum Pirates at 12 noon in a bid to hike their 11-4 win-loss tally and join the Arellano Chiefs and the San Beda Red Lions in the next phase.
The Knights, meanwhile, fight for life in their 4 p.m. confrontation with the dangerous Mapua Cardinals to bolster their title-retention campaign.
At sixth place with an 8-8 card, a loss against Mapua (9-5) would eliminate Letran from the Final Four race.
Arellano, meanwhile, aims to boost its twice-to-beat Final Four aspirations in its 2 p.m. tussle with Jose Rizal University (9-7).
The Chiefs are on top with a 12-3 card, while the Bombers are at fifth with a 9-7 mark.
Focus, however, will be on Letran as it tries to bounce back from a crucial 83-74 to Arellano last Friday.
But Letran coach Jeff Napa is not losing hope that his stalwarts can regain their composure and rise to the challenge.
Veteran point guard Rey Nambatac will continue to fuel the Knights with his 21.4-point average, but he needs significant support from John Quinto, Jom Sollano, and John Calvo.
Mapua, for its part, will bank on its height advantage with reigning MVP Allwell Oraeme at the forefront of its attack.
