Crucial NCAA games today

Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City) 10 a.m. – CSB-LSGH vs Lyceum (Jrs.) 11:45 a.m. – Letran vs San Beda (Jrs.) 2 p.m. – EAC vs Mapua (Srs.) 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs San Sebastian (Srs.)

With the Final Four race getting tighter, Mapua goes for a repeat win over Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) today as it tries to enhance its own bid in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Cardinals are carrying a fourth-best 8-5 mark but since the six other teams are still in the mix, they have to win at least four of their remaining five games to gain safe passage to the Final Four.

That will start in their 2 p.m. encounter with the Generals who likewise consider their game a do-or-die one.

With a 5-9 record, the Generals can’t afford to commit the same mistakes that allowed the Cardinals to escape with a 70-67 win during their first round showdown last July 15.

Another defeat would torpedo EAC’s semis bid.

Indeed, the Generals have to play extra sharp offensively since they will be facing a team coming off an impressive win over San Beda College last week.

While they need to be more creative and efficient offensively, their biggest concern is how to stop or limit the production of reigning MVP Allwell Oraeme.

The 6-foot-9 Oraeme – with his dominant inside plays – is averaging 16.8 points and 20 rebounds per game.

The Cardinals also have CJ Isit and Andoy Estrella, who are both deadly from perimeter – reason why they were able to score a vengeful 101-97 overtime win over the Red Lions.

The Lions also suffered a 9788 loss to the Jose Rizal University Bombers last Tuesday, allowing Arellano University to wrest the solo lead.

On the strength of their 78-75 win over the Lyceum Pirates, the Chiefs propelled themselves to the top with an 11-3 mark as the Lions slipped to 11-4.