After getting additional days of rest, the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and College of St. Benilde Blazers are ready to face separate rivals and keep their hold on the lead.
Heavy monsoon rains last Friday kept the Red Lions and the Blazers from confronting each other in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
The Red Lions will face the Mapua University Cardinals at 2 p.m., while the Blazers take on the Letran Knights at 12 noon today at the FilOil-Flying V Arena Sports Center in San Juan.
On the other hand, the Arellano Chiefs and the San Sebastian Stags meet at 4 p.m.
In the junior division, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies, along with co-leaders Arellano and San Beda take on separate foes in an effort to keep their share on the top spot.
The Greenies and the Letran Squires mix it up at 8 a.m., while the San Bed Red Cubs play against the Malayan Red Robins at 10 a.m. The Braves clash with the San Sebastian Staglets at 6 p.m.
For the Red Lions, avoiding a showdown with the Blazers should help them fix lapses in their defense when they meet the Cardinals and go for their fifth straight win.
“I told the boys, we may be up. But, it’s our defense that’s lacking,” said Red Lions’ coach Boyet Fernandez after they hurdled the San Sebastian Stags, 73-59.
The Red Lions share the lead with the Blazers after CSB got past the Stags, 77-72, last week.
The Cardinals have been winless for the last five games.
On the other hand, the Blazers will play without top performer, Justin Gutang, who missed their encounter with the Stags because of a partial MCL tear he sustained against the Cardinals two weeks ago.
But CSB is glad to have one of its veterans Yankee Haruna back in action last week after he sustained a jaw injured in the PBA D-League last May.
The Knights (5-1) will meet them without one of their starters in Gaylord Pambid, who is out with a knee injury.
Letran is seeking a follow through on its 89-84 beating of the Cardinals.
The Blazers will be upbeat against the Knights, as they are enjoying their best start in 21 years.