Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. — Letran vs EAC (Jrs)
12 noon — CSB vs Perpetual (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Letran vs EAC (Srs)
4 p.m. — CSB vs Perpetual (Srs)

Letran tries to bury the memory of a stinging defeat to Arellano University the last time when it battles Emilio Aguinaldo College while University of Perpetual Help resumes its quest for a first victory in the penultimate day of 86th NCAA basketball tournament’s first round eliminations Monday at The Arena in San Juan City.

After squandering a precious opportunity to beat the Chiefs last Friday, the Knights are expected to come out strong and vent their ire against the Generals in the opening game at 2 p.m.

The Altas, meantime, hope to notch their first win against the slumping College of St. Benilde Blazers side at 4 p.m.

The Knights held a 15-point first quarter lead against the Chiefs but they blew it away in the waning moments of the game to absorb a cliff-hanging 76-78 loss – their fifth in seven games.

Kevin Alas, the Knights’ No. 1 scorer, retuned from a knee injury but scored only 13 points on a woeful 3-of-18 shooting from the field.

The Knights, however, will have to raise their game a notch higher if they want to get back on the winning track against the Generals.

Although they are coming off a 70-74 overtime defeat to Jose Rizal University last Friday, Generals proved they are no pushover.

They forced last year’s third placers to commit season-worst 31 turnovers that irked JRU coach Vergel Meneses.

Both the Knights and the Generals are toting similar 2-5 cards, and the victorious squad Monday will gain a share of the third spot with the Chiefs.

The Boris Aldeguer-mentored Perpetual is hoping to barge into the win column after dropping their first seven outings while the Blazers are looking to snap a six-game losing skid.

Carlo Lastimosa, nephew of former PBA star and now Alaska assistant coach Jojo, and Mark De Guzman, are expected to spearhead the Blazers, who last tasted a victory 41 days ago (70-64 vs. Arellano).

Meanwhile, the Management Committee announced they would be selling separate tickets for the games pitting defending champion San Sebastian and last year’s runner-up San Beda and Jose Rizal and Mapua on Aug. 18 also at The Arena.