Mapua eyes last semis slot, faces EAC

THE MAPUA Cardinals will be intensifying their pursuit of the last slot in the Final Four when they take on the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals today in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan City.

The Cardinals momentarily lost their place behind front-runners San Beda (15-0), Letran (12-2) and San Beda (12-2) after the Jose Rizal University’s 64-57 victory over the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta last Friday. They are looking to tie the Mandaluyong quintet at 7-9 (win-loss).

The Cardinals and the Generals, which fell to 5-9 after losing back-to-back games to the Lyceum Pirates and the Letran Knights, clash at 4 p.m., with the Intramuros dribblers picked to win and stay in the hunt for a place in the semis.

The Cardinals are also coming off two straight losses, including an embarrassing 59-76 setback to the Red Lions a week ago.

But they pack enough firepower in their deadly unit led by Allan Mangahas, Mark Sarangay and Jeson Nimes against the Generals, who had lately picked up the bad habit of fading in the endgame.

In the 2 p.m. schedule, the Knights tackle the UPHSD Altas in the 2 p.m. game and are expected to roll into their 13th win in 15 matches and again wrest solo second from the Red Lions.

A win over the Altas will also put them closer to a twice-to-beat incentive in their own two-way race with the Red Lions. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio