MIT-EAC reset; Letran vs San Beda tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda and Letran brace for a showdown of NCAA titans tomorrow, disputing not only the solo lead but also to give three players from each squad a boost in in the MVP derby.

Meanwhile, the NCAA made a last-minute cancellation of yesterday’s scheduled lone game pitting Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua due to flooding in some areas leading to the venue at The Arena in San Juan.

With a few games left before the first round of elimination ends, three Knights, headed by Raymond Almazan, and three Lions, paced by Arthur dela Cruz, crowd the top 10 in the tightly contested MVP race, making their 6 p.m. duel tomorrow a crucial match.

The Lions and the Knights share the lead with 7-1 (win-loss) records

San Beda is out to reassert its mastery over Letran after the Lions swept the Knights to complete a three-peat feat last year and sixth title win in the last seven seasons.

“There is a lot of school pride at stake,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, whose wards routed their next six rivals after a 1-1 start.

The Knights, on the other hand, are out for revenge.

“I was not the coach when Letran lost to San Beda last year,” said Letran mentor Caloy Garcia. “But looking at the players, they are eager to play San Beda, maybe because of last year’s defeat.”

But there are more at stake in tomorrow’s duel of the leaders.

The 6-7 Almazan leads the MVP race with 59 MVP statistical points while Dela Cruz is in third with 46.75 SPs.

Letran’s Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal are tied for fifth with 45.57 points while San Beda’s Olaide Adeogun of Nigeria and Baser Amer are at seventh and eighth with 43.13 and 42.50, respectively.

Perpetual Help, at third behind Letran and San Beda with a 6-2 (win-loss) slate, also have three players in the top 10, including Harold Arboleda at No. 2 with 48.96 SPs, Nosa Omorogbe at No. 4 with 46.29 and rookie sensation Juneric Baloria at No. 10 with 42.43.

San Sebastian’s sophomore big man Bradwyn Guinto completes the top 10 at No. 9 with 42.50 SPs.

Meanwhile, the opening of the beach volleyball and badminton competitions in UAAP Season 76 has also been moved to Aug. 31.