Knights try to avoid chink in their armor

Enjoying one of its finest starts in team history, defending champion Letran tries to keep its win run going as it goes for a sixth straight victory against Mapua today in the 82nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

But things could be a little more difficult for the Knights when they face the Cardinals in their 4 p.m. encounter.

"We’re on a roll, but Mapua has won its last two games," said Letran coach Louie Alas, who steered the Knights to the 2003 and 2005 title romps. "They’re playing excellent lately, executing their plays and shooting the ball well."

Mapua is currently in solo fourth place with a 3-2 (win-loss) card and a victory over Letran would enable idle San Beda, another streaking team, a share of the lead.

The Knights are fresh from a 60-48 win over the Perpetual Help Altas last Monday where veteran playmaker Boyet Bautista and swingman Aaron Aban combined for 26 points to power the team to its fifth straight win.

"The key for us is to have a strong start. It’s difficult playing catch up like what we did against Perpetual. We also have to toughen our defense at the perimeter because they have good shooters," said Alas.

Mapua, on the other hand, is coming off a week-long layoff after it downed CSB, 79-74, where the Cardinals displayed their shooting prowess by nailing seven straight triples in the final period, including five by Jeofferson Gonzales.

"We know how strong Letran is, even without their veterans who helped them win the title last year. With Bautista and Aban, for me they’re still tough to beat," said Mapua coach Horacio Lim.

"Our strategy is to make life difficult for Bautista and Aban by continuously attacking them and defending them well," he added.

"We know that they play the zone defense well because of their taller wingmen," said Letran mentor Louie Alas. "But we’ll be ready."

Last year’s runner-up Philippine Christian U (4-2) tackles host College of St. Benilde (1-5) at 2 p.m. in the other seniors game with the Dolphins hoping to bounce back from their 62-54 loss to the Knights last Friday, and the Blazers raring to snap a four-game skid, including their 72-70 defeat to the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers.