Well-rested Mapua University and Lyceum of the Philippines University will cross paths anew as they lock horns on Friday NCAA Season 99 while both Emilio Aguinaldo College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran will tangle for a rebound win.
The league is returning after a four-day respite due to the holidays and immediately, the top two teams will open curtains with Mapua and Lyceum squaring off at 3:30 p.m., while EAC and Letran collide at 1:30 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Cardinals and the Pirates are both coming off wins before the break.
Mapua previously carved out a stunning 69-66 come-from-behind victory against the Knights with Clint Escamis at the forefront as the Cardinals bounced back from an uncharacteristic loss to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde three days before to improve to 9-2.
Mapua, who was once riding a six-game winning run, looks to get another streak going in bid to strengthen its Final Four return bid.
Lyceum, meanwhile, is on a two-game surge ever since ending its three-game skid. The Pirates are fresh from an overtime escape against Jose Rizal University and even with a depleted lineup, they were able to pull off an 81-78 squeaker against EAC last Saturday as they hiked their card to 8-3.
In the opener, EAC (6-5) and Letran (1-10) will look to return to the winning column after the Generals fell to Lyceum while the embattled Knights are hoping to capture its second victory of the season.
Tipped to lead EAC are the veteran duo of Nat Cosejo and JP Maguliano as well as the backcourt tandem of King Gurtiza and Ralph Robin while Kurt Reyson and Deo Cuajao are expected to fuel the hungry Knights.
In their first round encounter, EAC got the better of Letran with Maguliano and Gurtiza conniving.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
