Mapua, JRU eye breakthrough

MANILA—Tagged as a strong title contender this season, Mapua seeks a breakthrough victory against winless
St. Benilde today in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with the Cardinals looking to recover from an opening-day defeat to Letran without center Yousif Taha, who posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut for Mapua.

Jose Rizal U also guns for its first victory against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first game at 2 p.m.

The Bombers, hoping to regain the form that sent them to the Final Four the past five seasons, started the season with close defeats to San Sebastian and Arellano.

Veterans Raycon Kabigting, Jeckster Apinan, John Lopez and Alex Almario are still around to lead the Bombers, who will be turning to rookie Byron Villarias for additional scoring punch.

Villarias pumped in 21 points in the 75-79 overtime loss to Arellano last Wednesday.

Showing renewed confidence after two straight losing seasons in the league, the Generals stunned Arellano, 84-77, last July 4 to give coach Gerry Esplana his first victory since taking over the squad late last year.

Esplana will be pinning his hopes anew on Elyzer Paguia and Emil Vargas, who combined for 40 points against the Chiefs.

“If we continue to play solid, we can achieve something this season,” said Esplana, whose squad scored 34 points in the last quarter to complete the come-from-behind win over the Chiefs.

The 6-foot-7 Taha, who created a stir with a string of strong performances in the preseason, will serve a one-game suspension for his involvement in the last-minute melee in the 65-76 loss to the Knights last July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

His absence will leave a gaping hole at the middle and coach Chito Victolero is hoping that Mark Sarangay and Mike Parala step up to the challenge against the Blazers, who are also struggling with the lack of big men.