MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal and Mapua seek to keep their spots in the magic four as the two teams clash with Perpetual Help and Letran today in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Bombers, currently at third place with a 7-2 win-loss slate, battle the Altas at 2 p.m. gunning for a win that will put them within striking distance of the pace setting San Beda Lions (9-0) and the San Sebastian Stags (8-1).
The Cardinals, at fourth place with a 5-4 slate, take on the Knights at 4 p.m., out to nail the win that will give them enough breathing space against their chief pursuers.
Drawing strength from Nate Matute’s career best 22-point effort, Jose Rizal walloped Letran, 76-60, Friday in a performance coach Vergel Meneses hopes they can sustain against the Altas.
“If we play with the same fire we showed against Letran, we will have no problem,” said Meneses.
Perpetual Help will be playing without Arnold Danganan, the Altas’ top scorer who will serve a one-game suspension for a pair of technical fouls he incurred in a 70-79 loss last Aug. 16.
It was Danganan’s third technical infraction in the season. Two more and he would be suspended for the rest of the season, according to league commissioner Aric del Rosario.
Mapua hopes to snap a two-game slide following stinging defeats to Jose Rizal, 54-61, a week ago and Arellano in a fight-marred 72-76 result Friday.
Mapua’s reserve Raymark Cabrera will also serve the first of a two-game suspension meted him for throwing a punch right after the Mapua-Arellano U game.
Arellano U’s Erwin Catapang was also assessed a two-game ban for throwing the ball on Cabrera while teammate Vergel Zulueta will be out for one game for instigating the fight.