THE race in the NCAA playoffs is way too close and too complicated.

     Letran hopes to snatch the other 'twice-to-beat' berth in the 'Final Four' as it meets defending champion San Beda College, which is looking for the top seeding in the semifinals of the 84th NCAA seniors basketball tournament today at the Araneta Coliseum.

     The Knights (9-4) and the Red Lions (10-3) slug it out in the lone game at 4 p.m. right after the cheerleading competitions, where the Perpetual ALTAS Perp squad is eyeing a 'four-peat', at 2 p.m.

     San Sebastian College, Jose Rizal University and Mapua, who are bunched together at 9-5, are keenly awaiting the result of the Letran and San Beda as they look forward to a place in the semifinals.

     The NCAA last week said that they will use the FIBA classification point system to break ties in one of the closest 'Final Four' race in league history.

     If the Knights win over the Red Lions, the two teams will end up tied at 10-4, and they will figure it out in a playoff for the No. 1 and 2 spots, while the Stags, the Cardinals and the Heavy Bombers will compete in a step-ladder mach the two remaining semifinal seats.

     Due to higher points, San Sebastian (7) will earn a bye, while Mapua (6) and Jose Rizal (5) will play in a KO match.

     The winner in the Cardinals-Heavy Bombers KO match, will face the Stags in another playoff, this time for the third seed in the 'Final Four'.

     Loser of the Mapua-Jose Rizal duel will be eliminated.

     A San Beda win will give them the top seeding in the 'Final Four', but will further complicate things as there will be a four-way tie at 9-5.

     By using the FIBA classification point system, No.2 San Sebastian will face No. 5 Jose Rizal, while No. 3 Mapua will battle No. 4 Letran in a pair of knockout seeding matches.

     The winners of these matches will slug it out in another playoff match to determine the No. 2 seed in the 'Final Four'.

     On the other hand, the losing teams in the knockout matches will cross paths in another 'do or die' duel for the last semifinals berth.

     The Knights hope to avenge their 67-71 loss to the Red Lions in the first round, where Nigerian slotman Sam Ekwe exploded for 25 points and hauled down 17 rebounds.

     "Ekwe was unstoppable with his jumpers.  We have to do something if we want to have a better playoff standing," said Letran coach Louie Alas after pulling a 70-64 win over Philippine Christian University last Friday.