Games today:

Cuneta Astrodome

2 p.m. - Mapua vs. JRU

4 p.m. - Letran vs. PCU

THE MAPUA Cardinals' season will be on the line today as their push for a slot in the Final Four comes full circle when they battle the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the curtain-raiser of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Cardinals have shown over the past two weeks that they can perform with their backs against the wall, racking up four wins in a row to keep their hopes for a ticket to the semifinals alive.

They demolished the Perpetual Help Altas, 75-51, last Wednesday to hike their record up to 8-5 (win-loss) and close in to within half-a-game of the Letran Knights (8-4) and a game behind the San Sebastian Stags (9-5).

If Mapua wins today, they will automatically force a playoff for the final semifinals seat against either the Stags or the Heavy Bombers.

A loss, on the other hand, will mean an end to the Cardinals' season and to the stellar collegiate career of reigning MVP Kelvin dela Pena.

Dela Pena, the Fil-Canadian guard who has been the backbone of the squad for the past four years, is in his final days as a Cardinal after he was drafted by the Alaska Aces in the PBA. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio