Cardinals battle Stags today

Mapua tries to settle an old score against defending champion San Sebastian today while Letran faces an acid test when it meets Jose Rizal University in the resumption of 78th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Stags and the Cardinals, who met in last year’s Final Four, see action at 2 p.m. while the Knights and the Bombers, last year’s runners-up, collide at 4 p.m.

The four teams are locked in a heavy six-way tie for second place along with Philippine Christian University and Perpetual Help at identical 1-1 win-loss cards. St. Benilde, the 2000 champion, is still unbeaten in two games while host San Beda remains winless at 0-2.

Despite a 72-74 loss to St. Benilde last Monday, San Sebastian will go into the game as the favorite considering the presence of 6-foot-7 Fil-Am Clarke Moore, Jam Alfad, Christian Coronel, Roy Falcasantos and Paul Reguerra in the cast.

Mapua, still smarting from a 75-84 loss to Jose Rizal last Friday, is expected to lean on Roberto Lagar, Edsel Feliciano, Erwin Sta. Maria, and Christian Guevarra.

"All teams want a piece of San Sebastian because it’s the team to beat this year," said Mapua coach Horacio Lim, who steered the Red Robins to five NCAA juniors titles in 10 seasons before taking over the Cardinals in 2000.

"And we are eager to avenge our loss in last year’s Final Four to them," he added.