Letran faces Perpetual, sets sights on semis bonus

Mark Cruz celebrates another Letran win. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Letran would rather end the elimination-round of the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball without having to go through the playoffs just to enter the Final Four.

After falling apart against bitter rival San Beda, the Knights are determined to do things right in a bid to snatch a semifinal spot and a twice-to-beat incentive opposite Perpetual Help at 4 p.m. Friday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“We don’t want anymore complications, that’s why we’re going for nothing less than a win,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo.

The Red Lions ganged up on the Knights, 77-73, Tuesday to grab the first twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

The defeat pulled down the Knights to a

12-5 win-loss record, just a half game ahead of the Arellano Chiefs (12-6) with Perpetual Help, Jose Rizal and Mapua not far behind with identical 11-6 cards.

Another setback might put Letran in a five-way logjam at second place as Mapua battles Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2 p.m. and Jose Rizal takes on San Sebastian at 12 noon on the final playdate of the eliminations.

It won’t be easy for the Knights as the Altas will be equally determined to end the preliminaries on a successful note.

“We have no other choice but to win,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric Del Rosario.

The Altas saw their chances for an outright semifinal seat slip away after consecutive losses to the Bombers, 60-62, and the Stags, 87-91, last week.

In case of a tie, teams will be ranked depending on their quotient before going through a series of playoffs using the stepladder format.