Altas eye payback vs Lions at home

MANILA, Philippines -  Perpetual Help hosts San Beda today, seeking to cash in on home-court edge, avenge its Final Four defeat and bolster its semifinal bid in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Perpetual Help gym in Las Piñas.

The Altas actually came one win closer to making a trip to the championship last year but succumbed to the Lions in their sudden death with the latter claiming the finals seat and eventually the crown.

“It was still painful and we hope we could beat them (San Beda) this time,” said Perpetual Help Jimwell Gican.

The Altas hope to ride the momentum of their 68-59 win over the Arellano U Chiefs, last year’s runners-up, last Tuesday for joint fifth at 3-4 with San Sebastian and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Nigerian Prince Eze also seeks to come up with a follow-up to his career-high 23 points he spiked with 21 rebounds and five shot blocks against the Chiefs when they face off with the Lions at 4 p.m.

But San Beda is on a roll, winning its last five games for a 6-1 slate, just behind the unbeaten 7-0 card by Lyceum of the Philippines University.