Unbeaten Knights try to extend run versus Pirates

MANILA, Philippines - Letran slugs it out with Lyceum today in a duel of Muralla-based squads with the Knights out to stretch their unbeaten run to five in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Enjoying their best start in the years, the Knights hope to stay as sharp as ever as they brace for a tougher challenge against the unpredictable Pirates, who are coming into the 4 p.m. contest with a 2-2 mark.

San Beda, meanwhile, tries to keep Letran within sight or wrest the solo lead as it tangles with an equally fired-up Jose Rizal University side in the 6 p.m. main encounter.

Tied for second with Perpetual Help at 4-1, the defending three-peat champion Lions also remain wary of the Bombers, who are also out to improve its 3-2 slate halfway through the first round of the double-round elims.

Despite their impressive start, Letran coach Caloy Garcia remains wary of their next rivals, saying: “All our four games were cliffhangers, so in a way, we’re a bit lucky and at the same time I’m happy that the guys are showing maturity to finish close games.”

The Knights have beaten their first four rivals by no more than five points.

Against Lyceum, a team which split its first four matches but owns a win over fancied San Beda, 70-66, last June 24, Garcia expects another difficult, down-to-the-wire battle.

“Even before the season started, we knew there will be no easy games and that any team can beat any team as shown on how we scrambled to get to where we are right now,” said Garcia. “The Lyceum game will be no different so we just have to be prepared and ready for the challenge.”

Raymond Almazan has been Letran’s main man with the 6-7 center norming team highs 12.75 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks to likewise boost his bid for MVP honors.

After splitting their first two games, the Lions have dominated their last three opponents by an average winning margin of 17.67 points with Baser Amer and Nigerian Ola Adeogun spearheading the team’s attack.

Amer piled up norms of 14.33 points, 5.67 rebounds and 5.33 assists while turning the ball over just twice in their last three games while the 6-7 Adeogun averaged 13.67 points, 12.67 boards and two blocks in the same stretch.

Adeogun is again expected to impose his hulking frame over a smaller Jose Rizal side, which, however, has put up a solid start by winning three of its first five assignments for a share of fourth with San Sebastian.