Knights shoot for lead; Altas eye crucial win

Games today (The Arena, San Juan)

8 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (Jrs)

10 a.m. – EAC vs Mapua (Jrs)

12 noon – San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (Srs)

2 p.m. – EAC vs Mapua (Srs)

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Letran (Srs)

6 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Letran (Jrs)

MANILA, Philippines - Letran tries again to snare a Final Four spot and a twice-to-beat incentive while Perpetual Help seeks to stay alive as the two collide today in a make-or-break showdown in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Knights blew their first chance of making it through after falling to the San Beda Lions, their bitter rivals, in a heartbreaking 73-77 defeat that dropped them Tuesday from first to second with a 12-5 (win-loss) record behind the latter (13-5).

“We don’t want anymore complications, that’s why we’re going for nothing less than a win,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo.

The Altas will be equally determined to get the win after a pair of lost opportunities following defeats to the Jose Rizal Bombers, 60-62, and the San Sebastian Stags, 87-91, last week.

“We have no other choice but to win,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario, who has never missed the Final Four since he was named coach of the school three seasons back.

A win for Letran over Perpetual (11-6) in their 4 p.m. duel brings the team back to a share of top spot with San Beda while forcing a playoff between the two for the top seeding in the next round.

A defeat would send the Knights spiraling from No. 2 to a share of third with the Altas and the Arellano U Chiefs (12-6) and possibly more since the Jose Rizal Bombers and Mapua Cardinals, both parading 11-6 marks, could still catch up with them if they win their last elimination round games.

Jose Rizal clashes with San Sebastian (6-11) at 12 noon while Mapua collides with league doormat Emilio Aguinaldo College (2-15) at 2 p.m.