Knights try to firm up Last 4 bid vs Bombers

LETRAN seeks to move closer to a Final Four berth today when it squares off with Jose Rizal U in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is 4 p.m. with the Knights looking to bounce back from their third loss of the season and move within a win of the semifinals.

Seeking a fourth straight title, San Beda became the first team to punch its ticket to the Final Four with a 78-76 overtime win over Perpetual Help last Thursday.

The Bombers are also hoping for a change in fortunes after going on a four-game tailspin that has relegated them out of the Top 4.

In the other game at 6 p.m., Arellano tries to stay alive in the Final Four race against an already eliminated Mapua team.

With a 4-9 card, the Chiefs are in danger of missing out on the postseason for a fourth straight season, despite a rosy outlook at the start of the tournament.

The Cardinals have lost 11 straight games in what has been a nightmarish first season under rookie coach Atoy Co.

The Knights absorbed a shocking 64-87 at the hands of a hot-shooting Emilio Aguinaldo College squad in its last outing.

“We are learning a lot from that loss,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia, whose Knights gave up a season-high 57 points in the second half to the Generals.

“We know we have to play better and cannot relax,” added Garcia whose squad has actually lost two of its last three games.