Games Today (Filoil Flying V Arena)
10 a.m. — San Beda vs Letran (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — Perpetual Help vs St. Benilde (Jrs)
2 p.m. — San Beda vs Letran (Srs)
4 p.m. — Perpetual Help vs St. Benilde (Srs)

Four-peat seeking San Beda College renew its rivalry with Letran even as College of St. Benilde tries to snap a three-game losing skid against Perpetual Help in the NCAA basketball tournament on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The Red Lions (4-1) face the Knights (3-2) at 2 p.m., while the Blazers (2-3) test the mettle of the Altas (1-4) at 4 p.m.

Through five games, the Mendiola- based squad has dropped only a single game – against current co-leader San Sebastian College (77-83) last July 1. All their four wins were blowouts with a winning margin of 28.5 points.

Letran hopes to pull the rug from under the Red Lions.

“In the past two games, our strength is the third and fourth quarter. We have to learn to play 40 minutes of hard and consistent basketball if we want to continue winning and beat San Beda,” Letran coach Louie Alas said.

“If we can pull off against San Beda, it remains to be seen. They won all of their games via blowouts. It’s a tall order (to beat them) but we will try,” he added.

While the Lions are coming off an impressive 98-65 win over the Altas, the Knights are entering the game fresh from a three-game winning streak as they beat the Blazers, 86-69, last Monday where RP team member RJ Jazul fired 10 of his 16 points in the final frame.

The win propelled Letran above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

“Letran is one of our tough opponents this season, they are known for their pressure defense and I hope we can pull thru,” San Beda coach Frankie Lim said.

The Lions will rely anew on team mainstays Garvo Lanete, Bam Gamalinda, JR Tecson, Borgie Hermida, and rookie Sudan Daniel.

As for the Knights, aside from Jazul, Alas will also lean on Rey Guevarra, Jam Cortes, Jaypee Belencion, and John Foronda.

Equally interesting is the encounter between CSB and Perpetual, which is currently in a four-way tie for seventh with Mapua, as well as guest teams Emilio Aguinaldo College and Angeles University Foundation with similar 1-4 cards.