Perpetual gets a crack for a win over Generals; Cardinals in a must-win situation against the Blazers

Mapua shoots for the last ticket to the Final Four as it takes on an already eliminated St. Benilde today in the 86thNCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Cardinals had a chance of advancing on Monday when they fought the San Sebastian Stags, the reigning titlists, tooth and nail but couldn’t sustain it until the end and absorb a 76-85 loss—the sixth against eight wins by the former.

It was a setback that kept the Letran Knights, closing in at No. 5 with a 6-8 (win-loss) card, still in the running for a Final Four berth.

Mapua could end everything with a victory in its 4 p.m. duel with CSB today.

“We’ll try to accomplish what we failed to do the last time out, to win and make it to the Final Four officially,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero, a former pro on his second season as collegiate mentor.

Victolero, however, was quick to caution his team that its tough playing a CSB team, which owns a 5-10 record, eyeing no less than gaining some measure of respect this season.

“It’s always hard playing a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain so we have to really watch out,” said Victolero.

Truly, the Cardinals walked the tightrope against the Blazers after escaping with a tension-filled 65-63 squeaker in their first round encounter last Aug. 6 with Allan Mangahas making the shots that mattered and finishing with a game-high 25 points.

“Our goal is to finish the season with some respectability, we’re investing for the future,” said CSB coach Richard del Rosario.

Emilio Aguinaldo (2-12) and Perpetual (0-14) collide at 2 p.m. in a non-bearing duel.