Games today:
The Arena
2 p.m. – Mapua vs. Lyceum
4 p.m. – San Beda vs. Arellano
THE REIGNING champions San Beda Red Lions will try to join the league-leaders at the top of the standings when they take on the Arellano University Chiefs today in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Red Lions are currently chasing the Letran Knights and last year’s runners-up San Sebastian Stags for the lead in the standings.
San Beda, with their 2-0 (win-loss) record, are in pursuit of the Knights and Stags’ similar 3-0 marks.
San Beda has momentum on their side after coming off an 89-69 win over the Lyceum Pirates last week.
Arellano, on the other hand, got blasted by Letran last Wednesday, 88-70, and will try to regain their bearings behind their three-headed attack of Rocky Acidre, Virgil Zulueta and Andrian Celada.
The curtain-raiser will feature the Mapua Cardinals, who are aiming for their first win in the tournament.
Favored by most pundits because of their veteran roster, the Cardinals have sputtered out of the games, losing first to Letran and then to St. Benilde, 67-70, in an upset last Friday. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio