By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE San Sebastian Stags and Mapua Cardinals, two teams tightly fighting for the last Final Four spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95, go for key victories today against separate opponents to give their playoff push a boost.

San Sebastian, currently at fourth place with a 9-7 record, meets the already-eliminated Arellano Chiefs (4-12) in the 2 p.m. game at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City while Mapua (8-8) takes on also-rans Perpetual Help Altas (5-11) in the 12 noon game.

The Stags had a good chance to claim outright entry into the Final Four last time around but was tripped by the Cardinals, 90-73, in their game on Oct. 10.

A victory by San Sebastian in said game would have clinched for it an automatic semifinal berth, eliminating in the process Mapua and the still-hoping-to-catch-up College of Saint Benilde Blazers (7-9).

Looking to book a win, the Stags instead struggled against the Cardinals that had them grappling for answers versus the all-around attack by Mapua.

Noah Lugo led the Cardinals in their victory over the Stags, finishing with a game-high 22 points.

Laurenz Victoria followed suit with 18 points with Cyril Gonzales and Christian Bunag adding 15 and nine points, respectively.

For San Sebastian it was RK Ilagan who showed the way with 19 points, followed by Allyn Bulanadi with 18 and Rommel Calahat 10.

“We just wanted to get back at San Sebastian after losing to them by a wide margin in the first round,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara of their mindset in their last game.

Despite falling short the last time though, San Sebastian still has the wider path to the playoffs entering today’s matches.

A win today, coupled with a Mapua loss, would gift San Sebastian the Final Four seat.

In the event of a loss, and the Cardinals win resulting in them tied 9-8, it still has a chance in its final game in the elimination round to enter outright if it wins or play in a playoff if Mapua manages to win a second straight game in its final game.

They being tied at 9-9 is a possibility as well and would result in a playoff.

Meanwhile, playing in the third game at 4 p.m. is CSB against the Jose Rizal University (4-12).

The Blazers no longer have their Final Four fate in their hands but will try to win in their remaining two games and hope not one of San Sebastian and Mapua reach 10 victories to stay in the hunt.

Already assured of spots in the Final Four of NCAA Season 95 are defending champions San Beda Red Lions (17-0), Lyceum Pirates (13-4) and Letran Knights (11-6).

OFTANA IS POW
In other news, San Beda’s Calvin Oftana is the reigning NCAA player of the week, following his stellar play against CSB on Oct. 10.

The leading most valuable player candidate poured in 29 big points on top of nine rebounds, five assists and two steals as they raced to their 17th straight victory and moved on the verge of sweeping the elimination round.

In winning the award given by media covering the league, Oftana beat out teammate James Canlas, Mapua’s Lugo and San Sebastian’s Bulanadi.

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