Team Standings
San Sebastian        7-0
San Beda              6-1
Jose Rizal              6-1
Letran                    4-3
St. Benilde            4-4
Arellano U              2-4
EAC                      2-5
Perpetual Help        2-5
Mapua                  1-6
AUF                      1-6

Reigning three-peat champion San Beda seeks to close in on solo leader San Sebastian as it takes on Angeles U Foundation today in the 85th
NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City. The Lions bamboozled the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 95-71, Friday for their fifth straight win and sixth overall in seven games to join the Jose Rizal Bombers at second place. A win over the Great Danes, who own a 1-6 (win-loss) slate, in their 2 p.m. encounter would put it half a game closer to the Stags, who waylaid the Bombers, 91-76, Monday. Although the heavy favorites to win, the Lions wouldn’t take the Eric Gascon-mentored Great Danes for granted though. “We hope to come out aggressive in all our games against all the teams we face,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, who seeking to steer the Mendiola-based school to its first four-peat and the league’s second best 15th title overall. San Beda will also use the AUF game as probably a tune up to its much awaited showdown with Jose Rizal, the same team the former fought in a grueling three-game series to complete a three-peat feat last season. “We’re looking forward to our game against Jose Rizal but first things first we have to play AUF,” said Lim.

Letran, for its part, clashes with unpredictable Emilio Aguinaldo in the other game at 4 p.m. with hopes of keeping its place at fourth with a 4-3 record, or a half a game ahead of St. Benilde’s 4-4 mark. The Knights are priming up for their final assignment in the Stags on Aug. 14 but they have to find a way to tame the dangerous Generals, who have pulled the rug from under the Mapua Cardinals and St. Benilde Blazers to improve to 2-5. EAC, however, was put back to its old place following an embarrassing loss at the hands of San Beda. “We can’t  underestimate any team, EAC is no exception,” said Letran mentor Louie Alas, whose one of their three defeats came at the hands of guest team Arellano U early in the season.