Knights, Cardinals rekindle rivalry  

MANILA, Philippines — Weather permitting, Letran and Mapua rekindle their budding rivalry borne out of their title clash last season when they collide today in the NCAA Season 98 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

But instead of the championship, the Knights and the Cardinals are seeking crucial wins following a shaky start by the teams tipped to reprise their title showdown.

Letran, still the team to beat despite losing Season 97 rookie MVP Rhenz Abando and former captain Jeo Ambohot to the pros, had a rough, tumbling start before recovering ground with an 81-75 win over previously unbeaten College of St. Benilde Friday.

That win sent the three-peat seeking champions back to the Magic Four with a 2-1 slate.

Mapua, for its part, fell to a woeful 1-3 start for ninth spot or second to last.

The Cardinals will try to rebound from a 79-77 setback to the University of Perpetual Help Altas last Friday and avenge their two-game title sweep at the hands of the Knights last May,  denying them a first NCAA crown in more than three decades.

Game time is at 3 p.m.

Fran Yu is expected to star anew for the Knights after a Herculean effort in the win over CSB where he had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and the same number of steals.