League-leading Mapua (12-3) and Perpetual (8-7) will square off at 1:30 p.m. while other contenders San Beda University (8-6) and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (10-5) will lock horns at 3:30 p.m. in a bid to boost their respective semifinals hopes.
Mapua is coming off a gutsy come-from-behind win against San Beda University last Sunday behind a clutch triple from veteran Paolo Hernandez as the Cardinals cruised to their third straight win. And a win against the ALTAs will formally allow Mapua to return to the Final Four after missing out last season.
But Perpetual is expected to give Mapua a run for its money.
The wards of ALTAs head coach Myk Saguguit are currently on a roll, defeating top teams JRU, San Beda, and Lyceum as well as Arellano University en route to an 8-7 card to make up for a shaky start to the season with rising stars Jun Roque, Cyrus Nitura, Mark Omega, and Christian Pagaran proving their worth.
Meanwhile, San Beda and Benilde, coming off contrasting results in their previous games, will tangle as the two schools seek to strengthen their semis drive.
The Blazers recently booted out San Sebastian College-Recoletos as the backcourt tandem of Robi Nayve and Migs Oczon starred in their 78-68 win against the Stags while the Red Lions are reeling from two straight losses that saw them fall to Perpetual and Mapua.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
