Stags eye lead vs skidding Cardinals

SAN SEBASTIAN seeks to stretch its winning streak to seven games when it clashes with Mapua today in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.

The Stags, tied for the lead with the idle San Beda Lions at 6-1, hope to cope with the absence of injured leading scorer Ian Sangalang in the 6 p.m. clash with the Cardinals, who have dropped their last three outings.

An inspired Perpetual Help—the surprise team of the first round—guns for its seventh win against Arellano at 4 p.m. Playing with renewed confidence under coach Aric Del Rosario, the Altas have already surpassed their win total from last season.

The Altas needed a clutch performance from Jett Vidal to overcome Emilio Aguinaldo College, 88-87, in their last outing. They rallied from an 11-point deficit in the last 88 seconds to come away with the win that left Del Rosario in tears.

“The important thing for me is the players are not giving up,” said Del Rosario.

The Chiefs also have a new coach in Koy Banal, but with most of the players either rookies or sophomores, they have struggled to cope with the opposition. They have lost their last four games. Cedelf P. Tupas

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