Chiefs hope to stay alive versus Cards

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano U tries to keep its flickering Final Four hopes alive as it plays ousted Mapua today in the elimination round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

With a 7-7 card, the Chiefs need to sweep their last four games and hope the Letran Knights (11-5) lose their last two matches to force a playoff for the fourth and last semis berth.

“We still have a chance and the players know it, but we need to take it one game at a time,” said Arellano U coach Junjie Ablan.

The Chiefs repulsed the Cardinals, 76-73, in the first round. But the Legarda-based squad is on a three-game slide following losses to the Knights, the Jose Rizal Bombers and the San Beda Red Lions.

The string of losses left the Chiefs with no choice but to beat the Cardinals at 2 p.m., the unbeaten San Sebastian Stags on Monday, the Perpetual Help Altas next week and the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals on Oct. 2.

They must also pray for the Knights’ loss to the Stags next week and the Lions on Sept. 30.

Meanwhile, St. Benilde (4-10) clashes with Angeles U Foundation (1-13) in a non-bearing match at 4 p.m.