Knights, Altas seek crucial NCAA wins

LETRAN and Perpetual Help try to inch closer to Final Four berths today when they collide against teams in the lower half of the standings in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With a 10-2 card, the Knights seek a share of the lead with the defending champion San Beda Red Lions when they tangle with a dangerous Emilio Aguinaldo College squad at 6 p.m.

The Altas, running third at 10-3, gun for a season sweep of the slumping Mapua Cardinals in the first game at 4 p.m.

Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario remains wary of Mapua despite the Cardinals’ woeful 1-11 record marked by a 10-game losing slide.

“We can’t relax against teams like Mapua if we want to reach the Final Four and get a twice-to-beat advantage,” said Del Rosario in Filipino. “Playing against teams that have nothing to lose is always difficult.”

The Altas are on a two-game winning run, following close victories over St. Benilde and Jose Rizal U.

One thing going for the Altas is the sizzling form of Juneric Baloria, who burned the Bombers with 32 points in a 64-61 victory Monday, the same day the Knights got a huge lift from rookie John Tambeling in the 70-59 dumping of Arellano.