Crucial game for Mapua, Lyceum

Games today:

The Arena

2 p.m. – San Beda vs. EAC

4 p.m. – Lyceum vs. Mapua

THE MAPUA Cardinals and the Lyceum Pirates figure in a crucial match which might decide who will get the last Final Four slot today in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan City.

The two teams are locked in a battle for the fourth spot with the Pirates owning a half-game lead over the Cardinals in the race for the next round. After logging in four wins in the first round, the Pirates have tapered off of late and are now at 5-5 (win-loss), while Mapua owns a 5-6 card.

Both squads have momentum on their side owing to their victories in their previous games. The Cardinals survived the upset-conscious Perpetual Help, 65-62, while the Pirates rallied from 13 points down in the third period to upend the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 71-65.

The San Beda Red Lions face off against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the first game.  Correspondent Jonas Panerio