Lions seek 12th win vs Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines—Expect no letup from the San Beda Red Lions when they set out for a 12th straight win against the Mapua Cardinals Wednesday in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.   Gametime is 4 p.m. with the Lions seeking a repeat of their first-round conquest of the Cardinals, who are two wins shy of the last Final Four slot.   Letran, still in the running for a spot in the semifinals, collides with winless Perpetual Help at 2 p.m.   The Knights have an outside chance of making the Final Four, needing to win its remaining five matches while hoping that the Cardinals do not win more than two of their last five games.   San Beda, San Sebastian and Jose Rizal U, which defeated Arellano U, 67-64, last Monday, already clinched berths in the Final Four.   Lions coach Frankie Lim remains wary of the Cardinals, the only team which came closest to beating them in the first round, 69-64.   “Mapua has great defense, they have the size to match up with us,” said Lim, whose squad has won 10 of its 11 games by double-digit margins.   “This is the reason why we had a hard time beating them in the first round. They have good shooters that we have to cover and worry about.”