Team Standings W L
Arellano U 11 1
San Beda 11 1
Mapua 10 2
CSB 9 3
LPU 6 5
Letran 5 7
Perpetual Help 4 8
Jose Rizal 2 10
San Sebastian 1 11
EAC 0 11
ARELLANO U and San Beda try to keep their stranglehold of the lead as the two tackle Letran and Perpetual Help, respectively, today in the 92nd NCAA juniors basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Braves turned back the Jose Rizal Light Bombers while the Cubs downed the Lyceum of the Philippoines U Junior Pirates, 80-66, to remain atop the heap with identical 11-1 (win-loss) records.
Another win in their morning duels will push them a win closer from clinching at least a playoff for a berth in the Final Four.
Both Arellano and San Beda are also looking to stay in the top two for the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.
“Our goal is to make the Final Four first. If we can achieve it, we’ll start to think of the twice-to-beat edge,” said San Beda coach JB Sison.
The Mapua Red Robins are just a game behind with a 10-2 mark. They tangle with LPU (6-5) at 12:30 p.m. hoping to catch up with the leaders.
St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills is currently at No. 4 with a 9-3 card. The CSB Junior Blazers battle the San Sebastian Staglets at 2:15 p.m.
Jose Rizal (2-10) and Emilio Aguinaldo (0-11) face off at 4 p.m.
The Red Cubs are on a tear. Early last week Sam Abu Hijle scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Cubs trounced the hapless Lyceum Junior Pirates, 80-66.
Abu Hijle had 10 markers in the fourth period when San Beda put the game out of reach.
“He carried us through in this game,” said Sison of his prized player.
Robi Nayve and Peter Alfaro combined for 24 points to back up Abu Hijle of San Beda.
Games today (Aug. 29)
(The Arena, San Juan)
9 a.m.- Arellano vs Letran (jrs)
10:45 a.m.- San Beda
vs Perpetual (jrs)
12:30 p.m.- Mapua vs LPU (jrs)
2:15 p.m.- St. Benilde
vs San Sebastian (jrs)
4 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs EAC (jrs)