Games on Friday
(The Arena, San Juan City)
10 a.m. — Mapua vs AUF (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — Letran vs San Beda (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Mapua vs AUF (Srs)
4 p.m. — Letran vs San Beda (Srs)

The NCAA Policy Board decided late Tuesday to postpone the basketball games scheduled for Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan to give people more time to recover from the havoc wrought by tropical storm Ondoy over the weekend.

League officials said that today's double-header pitting Mapua against Angeles University Foundation and reigning three-peat titlist San Beda and Letran will be played on Friday at same venue.

After spoiling the sweep bid of tournament favorite San Sebastian, Letran tries to pull off another upset when it battles defending three-peat champion San Beda College on Wednesday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Knights seek a follow up to their stunning 80-63 win against the Stags in their 4 p.m. showdown with the Red Lions, who are hoping to boost their own bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

But Letran coach Louie Alas said a tough game lies ahead as the Red Lions have beaten them in first round, 79-74.

“We know San Beda is a strong team and they are capable of beating any team. They also beat us in the first round so we expect a tough fight this time,” said Alas,whose squad stole the limelight last week after stopping the Stags’ 15-game winning streak.

The Knights relied on their vaunted defense in foiling the Stags’ bid for an 18-game sweep of the elims, holding down San Sebastian to its lowest output of the season.

Offensively, the Knights leaned on national aspirants Rafael Jazul and Rey Guevarra who starred for 27 points apiece.

Clashing in the first game at 2 p.m. are the also-rans Mapua (4-12) and Angeles University Foundation (1-15).

With a 12-5 card, the Knights are assured of finishing the elims at No. 4.

Alas wants a huge win in their final match in the elims before entering the more grueling Final Four stage set Oct. 12.

“We want some momentum going into the Final Four so we want to treat our final game as important as winning in the semifinals,” said Alas.