Knights try to bounce back

By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Games Today (The Arena, San Juan)
12 noon – Letran vs St. Benilde (Jrs)
2 p.m. – EAC vs Mapua (Jrs)
4 p.m. – Letran vs CSB (Srs)
6 p.m. – EAC vs Mapua (Srs)

Manila, Philippines – Letran and Emilio Aguinaldo College try to bounce back from fresh losses when they meet separate rivals today in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Knights go up against the College of St. Benilde Blazers at 4 p.m., while the Generals battle the Mapua Cardinals in the 6 p.m. nightcap.

Junior teams Letran Squires and St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills Junior Blazers clash at 12 noon, while the EAC Brigadiers and the Mapua Red Robins square off at 2 p.m.

The Knights are expected to brush off their bruised knees after a shocking 77-67 defeat at the hands of the Arellano Chiefs two days back, putting them on a three-way logjam with the Blazers and the Generals at 1-2.

But it wouldn’t be a walk in the park since the boys of coach Louie Alas will miss key players Jam Cortes and Jonathan Belorio, who will serve their automatic onegame suspensions after getting assessed with flagrant fouls in
their match against Arellano.

Cortes was ejected early in the second quarter after being slapped with a flagrant foul penalty two, while Belorio followed suit early in the third after incurring a second flagrant foul penalty.

The Knights will still go on despite the setback, with main man Kevin Alas slated to banner their attack against the hungry Blazers.

St. Benilde is reeling on backto-back defeats against San Sebastian (95-93) and Mapua (6455) since winning its first game against Lyceum (70-61) two weeks ago.

Carlo Lastimosa will match the prowess of Alas, while getting enough reinforcements on Luis Sinco and Juan Taha.

EAC likewise hopes to regain their bearings after absorbing a heart-breaking 83-81 defeat against Lyceum for their second straight loss.

A win for the Generals will improve them to solo third place.

The duo of Cameroonian Noube Happi and Jan Jamon John Tayongtong are expected to spearhead EAC against Mapua’s own go-to pair of Josan Nimes and Michael Parala.

The Cardinals seek their second consecutive victory in three games.

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