Red Lions, Knights try to stay at helm

San Beda and Letran try to stay on top of the heap as they take on separate rivals trying to boost their respective Final Four bids at resumption of the 79th NCAA basketball tournament today at the Makati Coliseum.

Unbeaten in the last five games after a 1-2 start, the Red Lions clash with the defending champion San Sebastian Stags in the 4 p.m. main game, hoping to keep the streak going and firm up their bid for the No. 1 spot being contested by the Letran Knights.

The Knights, tied with the Red Lions at the helm, go up against the Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m. The Cards occupy the third spot with a 5-3 win-loss mark while the Stags are tied in fifth place with Perpetual Help (4-4) behind the fourth-running Jose Rizal College Bombers (5-4).

San Beda is out to duplicate its 80-69 romp over the Stags in the first round last July 21 with the troika of skipper Arjun Cordero, Jerome Paterno and rookie Ronnie Bughao expected to spearhead the team’s bid again. The Red Lions, who last tasted the crown in 1978, are seeking to finally snap a long, long title drought this year.

A bumpy start has left the Stags struggling outside of the top four and in danger of missing the semifinal round which they used to dominate. But with 6-foot-7 Fil-Am Clark Moore failing to use his height advantage to the hilt, the Stags are left with the likes of Leomar Najorda, Chris Baluyot, Nicole Uy and Michael Gonzales to carry the cudgels for the beleaguered champions.

The Letran-Mapua duel is another story.

The Knights lost to the Cardinals, 58-66, in the season’s inaugurals last June 28 but fought back with six victories in their next seven games to gain a share of the lead.

Mapua coach Horacio Lim knows it will difficult to beat Letran this time.

"They’ve definitely improved so we have to play harder against them if we want to beat them again," said Lim, whose charges are likewise seeking to stay within striking distance of the leaders at 5-3.

Ronjay Enrile, the prolific former high school MVP, is expected to lead the Knights anew.