Tough Cardinals seek solo third place against Blazers

MANILA, Philippines–Mapua shoots for solo third against a battle-weary St. Benilde squad Friday even as Perpetual Help continues its quest for a first victory in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.   The Cardinals target a fifth victory in seven outings at 2 p.m. against the Blazers, who will be playing their third game in five days.   The Altas, winless in six games, meet struggling  Emilio Aguinaldo College (1-6) at 4 p.m.   The odds are pretty much even between the Altas and Generals, who obviously lack the firepower to keep up with the big guns.   Perpetual Help’s morale and Final Four hopes were dealt another blow last July 28 when San Beda crushed the Altas, 101-77.   EAC coach Nomar Isla is hoping the Generals would display the defensive intensity that they showed when they trounced the Blazers, 76-71, last July 28.   “I just hope we could toughen up our defense more because I feel it’s the only way for us to win more games,” he said.   With the core of last year’s squad returning, Mapua is playing like a team ready to return to the Final Four.   Another win today will put the Cardinals at their highest post in two years. San Beda and San Sebastian are on top with 6-0 records.   Cardinals coach Chito Victolero refuses to get carried away by his team’s fine early-season form.   “We’re taking it one game at a time,” said Victolero, whose Cardinals are coming off a 82-68 drubbing of EAC last Monday. “Our goal is to play aggressive and tough defense, that’s what we’ve done right the past few games.”