MANILA, Philippines - Letran seeks to stretch its win run to seven and keep a surging San Beda at bay as it tangles with a struggling Mapua side today in the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Knights continued to dish out big games while in grief following the gun slay try on guard Franz Dysam and the killing of his girlfriend, beating the Arellano U Chiefs, 67-57, last Monday to remain the lone unbeaten squad in the 10-team field.
Skipper Mark Cruz erupted for a game-high 25 points while getting additional minutes due to the absence of Dysam.
“This win is really for him, we dedicate this win to him,†said Cruz in Filipino referring to Dysam after the Knights rolled past the Chiefs.
The Knights will bring the same mindset as they play the lowly Cardinals at 4 p.m. While Letran kept on piling up wins, Mapua kept on dropping games, losing five of its first six games, including a stinging setback to the Lions in a game where the two coaches – San Beda’s Boyet Fernandez and Mapua’s Atoy Co and his consultant Ed Cordero – went on a post-game word war.
Co, however, downplayed the altercation.
“Our focus now is against Letran, that’s we’re concentrating on right now,†said Co.
The Lions, meanwhile, have racked up five straight wins, including a 72-65 triumph over the Perpetual Help Altas Thursday to stay behind the Knights at 6-1.
The Knights’ 10-point win over the Chiefs was the former’s highest winning margin after beating their first five opponents by an average of 4.4 points.
Letran coach Caloy Garcia knows the task only gets tougher after each match.
“Every game is a different challenge and I’m just happy the guys are making the right adjustments in the game,†said Garcia.