Pirates shoot for 4th spot vs Altas

MANILA, Philippines - Lyceum shoots to regain its place at fourth spot with red-hot Mapua as it takes on an unpredictable Perpetual Help today in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Pirates ceded the No. 4 spot to the Cardinals, who dealt them a 59-80 rout Friday. The Pirates fell to fifth with a 5-6 (win-loss) slate.

A win in their 4 p.m. showdown with Perpetual, currently dead last with a 2-10 card but still looking to sweep its last six games to stay in the running for the Final Four, would send Lyceum back inside the magic four.

The Intramuros-based cagers will get the needed boost following the return of rotation players Onofre Napiza and Floricel Guevarra from a one-game suspension the two served in a loss to Mapua.

Meanwhile, St. Benilde and Arellano U likewise try to light up their flickering campaign as they collide at 11:45 a.m.

The Blazers and the Chiefs are at sixth and seventh places on 4-7 and 4-8 marks, respectively, and their game could make or break their season.

St. Benilde is expected to keep mentor Richard del Rosario at the bench as official word has yet to come from B-Meg where he reportedly assumes the coaching job from Jorge Gallent.

League rules don’t allow professional head coaches to coach in the NCAA.

“I will still coach tomorrow because my final status with B-Meg will be known on Tuesday,” said del Rosario.