Cardinals gun for last Final Four slot

Mapua guns for the last Final Four berth as it takes on St. Benilde today in the final week of the elimination round in the 79th NCCA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Currently at fourth spot with a 7-5 slate, the Cardinals go all out for a win against the Blazers at 1:15 p.m. that would not only seal them the last semifinal spot but also keep their chances of earning a twice-to-beat advantage.

So far, defending champion San Sebastian (9-4), Jose Rizal (8-5) and Letran (8-5) have barged into the semis, leaving one more slot for Mapua, San Beda and Perpetual Help to contest it.

And the Cards can put an end to the semis aspirations of the Red Lions (6-7) and the Altas (5-7) with a win today.

The best San Beda and Perpetual Help could do is pray and hope that St. Benilde, which picked up four victories in its last five games though out of it all, pull off a stunner against a team oozing with talent and experience.

Perpetual Help is scheduled to face Philippine Christian University (3-9) at 3 p.m. but a Mapua triumph could render this game meaningless.

Mapua coach Horacio Lim admits his team is fancied to win over St. Benilde but cautioned his players from playing complacent.

"We’re aware that we have all the advantages against them but we can’t underestimate them because they’ve improved a lot compared to the first round," said Lim.

The player to watch for Mapua is Raymund Dula, who had a season-high 23 rebounds on top of 11 points that led to his team’s win over San Beda last Thursday.

The 6’6" Dula, however, will have his hands full against the duo of Al Magpayo and Ronal Capati, the league’s most talented frontline tandem.

And Lim knows Dula will play a crucial role in their game against the runners-up of last season.

"If we can hold our own in the shaded area and control the boards, we have a strong chance of winning this," Lim explained.

Not only are the Cards seeking a semis spot and a twice-to-beat advantage, they are also eyeing to regain the title they last won in 1990 during the time of Joel Banal, now the mentor of defending UAAP titlist Ateneo.