Lions, Altas try to stay ahead

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda and Perpetual Help shoot for nothing less than a victory against ousted San Sebastian and Emilio Aguinaldo, respectively, Tuesday that should give them the edge in the six-cornered Final Four race in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lions are currently atop the standings with 11 wins and three losses and a victory in their 4 p.m. duel with the Stags (4-10) would keep its stranglehold of the lead while enhancing their chances of gaining one of the two twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four.

The Altas, for their part, are currently at third with a 10-4 (win-loss) record and will jump to a share of second with idle Letran (11-4) if they could beat the Generals in their 2 p.m. encounter.

Interestingly, a win by Perpetual and a loss by San Beda to San Sebastian will forge a three-way logjam for first place in one of the most exciting Final Four wind up after a long while as six teams are still at it for Final Four berths.

Not one, not even a heavily favored San Beda, is assured of a slot in the next round as any team, including No. 6 Jose Rizal (9-6) are still in the thick of things.

Arellano U and Mapua, who are at joint No. 4 with 10-5 marks, are the other two schools still in the hunt.

"It's practically win or bust for all of the teams still in Final Four contention," said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Earl Scottie Thompson will be the player to watch after he dropped 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Perpetual Help's 70-47 demolition of St. Benilde this Friday for his sixth triple-double game of the season and ninth overall in his career.

Thompson, the fifth overall pick by Brgy. Ginebra in this year's PBA rookie draft, however, is more concern on piling up victories than stats.

"I'm more focused on helping the team win more than anything else," said Thompson.

Like the Final Four race, the MVP derby is as exhibiting as more than five players are in the hunt.

Like Thompson, San Beda's Arthur dela Cruz is an MVP contender that was made more legitimate after he unleashed a 25-point splurge in lifting his team to an 87-80 win over Lyceum Thursday that propelled the reigning five-peat champion to the top.

Also in the MVP conversation are Mapua's Allwell Oraeme, Thompson's  teammate Bright Akhuetie, Arellano U's Jio Jalalon and Letran's troike of Kevin Racal, Rey Nambatac and Mark Cruz.