Hot Altas eye 5th straight victory, tackle Cards

WITH much of the spotlight on San Beda and Arellano, Perpetual Help has gone under the radar, quietly putting together a solid first round in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament.

The Altas look to make it five wins in a row today when they clash with the Mapua Cardinals at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Holding a 6-2 record, the Altas will be assured of second spot heading into the second round with a victory in the 4 p.m. game.

St. Benilde tries to finally break into the win column when it squares off with Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2 p.m.

The Blazers are winless in eight outings, but it doesn’t get any easier against the Generals, who are also desperate to improve on their 2-6 record.

The Cardinals have blown hot and cold in the past two weeks, losing two of their last three games after a stirring 4-0 start. But coach Atoy Co is in no mood to press the panic button as he remains firm in the belief that the Cardinals can handle the toughest stretch of the first round.

“I think the team is better at dealing with pressure situations now than in previous seasons,” Co said in Filipino.

The matchup between Mapua’s towering center Allwell Oraeme and Bright Akhuetie, the Altas’ hulking big man, is among the subplots of what should be an explosive encounter.

Akhuetie has averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks while Oraeme has piled up averages of 17.7 points, a season-high 19.3 boards and three blocks.