|
IT’S
Letran’s turn to dodge the upset ax of San Sebastian
College (SSC) and remain unblemished in the 84th
Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball
tournament.
Knowing
that SSC nearly pulled the rug from under San Beda
College, the Knights cautiously troop to the Cuneta
Astrodome today as they take on the dangerous Stags in
their bid to notch their fourth-straight win.
Game
time is 2 p.m., followed by the clash between Jose Rizal
University and University of Perpetual Help Dalta System
at 4 p.m.
“San
Sebastian is a very tough team,” said Letran coach Louie
Alas. “Kita n’yo naman ’yung ginawa nila sa San
Beda.”
On
Monday the Stags almost pulled off a mammoth upset
against the Red Lions. The defending back-to-back
champions merely had enough power though to escape with
an 84-83 overtime victory. A defeat would have left the
Knights as the only unbeaten squad in the field.
“I hope
that what had happened then would serve as a warning to
my players that we cannot take San Sebastian lightly, or
any team in this league for that matter. We have to
always come up with our best game,” added Alas.
The
Muralla-based dribblers are coming off a 73-62 triumph
over the Dolphins of Philippine Christian University (PCU)
on Friday, their third win in as many games.
Standings: Letran 3-0, San Beda 3-0, Mapua 4-1, St.
Benilde 2-3, Jose Rizal 1-2, Perpetual 1-3, San
Sebastian 1-3, PCU 1-4.
A
victory over their rivals from Recto will match their
4-0 start last year and, more importantly, move them
atop the standings, half a game ahead of the idle Red
Lions halfway though the first of the two-round
eliminations.
To
achieve that goal, Alas will be banking on his top
players led by the hot-shooting RJ Jazul, currently the
league’s leading scorer at 23.33 points per game. He
also norms six rebounds and 4.33 steals.
Expected
to backstop Jazul are fellow veterans Dino Daa, Rey
Francis Guevarra and John Melegrito.
San
Sebastian will lean on Jason Ballesteros, Jim Viray,
Jimbo Aquino and Pamboy Raymundo in its attempt to
improve its 1-3 slate and get back into contention.
The
Stags are currently tied with the Altas at sixth spot,
half a game ahead of the last-place Dolphins.
UPHDS
will also try to move up the ladder as they go up
against JRU, which is looking for its second straight
win after a 0-2 start.
The
Altas have lost their last three matches, the most
recent was 65-61 to the Dolphins Monday. The Heavy
Bombers scored a 76-65 triumph over the Saint Benilde
Blazers before going into a nine-day respite. |
