Knights gun for 3rd win vs Bombers

TITLE contender Letran stakes its unblemished record against Jose Rizal U today in the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Showing fine form early in the season, the Knights shoot for a third straight win at 6 p.m. against the Heavy Bombers, who remain competitive despite a lineup that includes 10 rookies.

“JRU is no stranger to winning big games,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia. “We have to beat them by a mile if we want to go far.”

The Mapua Cardinals and the Lyceum Pirates take the floor earlier at 4 p.m.

The Knights hardly felt the loss of top gunner Kevin Alas and his father-coach Louie in hurdling the San Sebastian Stags, 74-69, and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 79-74.

In contrast, the Bombers absorbed a stinging reality check in a 70-78 loss to league co-leader Perpetual Help Altas.

“We’ll be working on the same game plan, but with a different attitude,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “We need to play 40 minutes of good basketball to survive Letran.”

The Cardinals and rookie coach Atoy Co will ride the momentum of a 104-99 double-overtime win over the Stags as they shoot for a second straight victory.

Co will again lean on the tandem of Joseph Eriobu and Ken Ighalo who shone when the Cardinals thwarted the favored Stags.