MAPUA hopes to extend its three-game streak, while College of St. Benilde seeks to get out of the funk as the two battle separate foes for the lead in today’s final first-round of elimination NCAA Season 100 play date at the MOA Arena.
Tied at the helm with 6-2 records, the Cardinals and the Blazers could keep the status quo if the two could hurdle the San Beda Lions at 2:30 p.m. and the Jose Rizal U Bombers at 11 a.m., respectively.
Mapua will ride the crest of a three-match rampage, including a 77-71 victory over Arellano U Wednesday, while CSB has been playing mediocre the past two games, which it split with an escape 96-94 overtime win over San Sebastian and a 73-71 setback to AU Friday.
“Kailangan lang namin mag-trabaho pa,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara, who is to be spearheaded by reigning MVP Clint Escamis.
And that the Cardinals would need to do as they tackle the Lions, the reigning titlists who are currently at No. 4 with a 5-3 mark.
San Beda has so far succeeded in transforming Romel Puno from an athletic rebounding and shot-blocking dynamo to an offense-minded player as he now leads his team in scoring with an average of 13.3 points a game.
“I’m just trying to add a new dimension to my game that would also help the team more,” said Puno.
For JRU (3-5), it hopes its 75-63 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College Friday would light its flickering Final Four bid.
“We’ll try to give them a good fight,” said JRU mentor Louie Gonzales.
Meanwhile, EAC (3-5) and SSC-R (2-6) will try to resuscitate its waning Final Four campaign as the two collide at 5 p.m.
Games Tuesday (MOA Arena)
11 a.m.- CSB vs JRU
2:30 p.m.- San Beda vs Mapua
5 p.m.- SSC-R vs EAC
