Stags eye NCAA Final Four slot; Knights take on Cardinals

Photo by Ejay Amador

MANILA—San Sebastian shoots for the first Final Four berth even as Letran and Mapua put their winning streaks on the line against each other Wednesday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Stags hope to keep their perfect record against the struggling Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the main game at 4 p.m.

San Sebastian’s 12th win will assure the Stags of the first Final Four berth this season and a third straight appearance in the postseason. San Sebastian won the title in 2009 and wound up second last season to San Beda.

The Knights and the Cardinals clash in the 2 p.m. game.

Letran, which owns a 9-2 slate, has won five straight, while Mapua has scored four consecutive wins to vault back into contention.

Letran coach Louie Alas said that despite Mapua’s record, the Cardinals remain a solid title contender.

Even after a first-round sweep, the Stags have stayed relentless, winning their first two games of the second round via huge margins.

And coach Topex Robinson likes it that way.

“We will continue to sharpen our saw,” Robinson said. “The season doesn’t get any easier from here.”

The Bombers have dropped four games, including a 65-71 decision to the Lyceum Pirates last week. JRU, though, put the game under protest, citing non-calls during the game that may have altered the result.

The NCAA management committee is expected to come out with a decision on the protest Wednesday.