SSC, SBC, Mapua jockey for position

Defending champion San Sebastian, San Beda and Mapua seek to move closer to leader Jose Rizal as the 79th NCAA basketball tournament resumes today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Bunched at second spot with the Letran Knights on identical 3-2 slates, the Stags and the Red Lions collide at 4:45 p.m. while the Cardinals take on the winless St. Benilde Blazers at 1:15 p.m.

Despite coming off a close 61-63 loss to San Sebastian, Mapua is expected to hurdle St. Benilde, a team needing to overcome its habit of playing selfish individual basketball.

Blazers coach Tonichi Yturri puts it simply: „We can‚t win playing selfish individual basketball. We need to play as a team and learn to trust on each other if we want earn respect from other teams.‰

Yturri has the best frontline tandem in Al Magpayo and Ronald Capati, who have the tendency of overdoing their responsibility of carrying St. Benilde on their shoulders leaving their younger teammates helpless.

Against the Cardinals, the Blazers are expected to face problems again what with Mapua brandishing an almost intact line-up spearheaded by Jeff Martin and skipper Christian Guevarra.

Focus, however, is on the San Sebastian-San Beda duel.

Both the Stags and the Red Lions are coming off a win but the latter are hotter following a two-game streak, the last game coming at the expense of the Blazers, 91-81.

While San Sebastian is relying heavily on its veterans led by Leomar Najorda, Nicole Uy, Chris Baluyot and Michael Gonzales, San Beda is pinning its hopes on team captain Arjun Cordero and talented support crew headed by Jerome Paterno and Ronnie Bughao.