NCAA: Red Lions to face Cardinals sans Ekwe

Standings: San Beda College 2-0 Letran College 2-0 Jose Rizal University 1-1 San Sebastian College-Recoletos 1-1 College of St. Benilde 1-1 Mapua Institute of Technology 0-2 University of Perpetual Help Dalta 0-2 Games Wednesday: The Arena, San Juan 2 p.m. St. Benidle vs Perpetual (Srs) 4 p.m. Mapua vs San Beda (Srs) Defending champion San Beda College will try to regain the solo leadership minus its dominating center Sam Ekwe when it faces dangerous Mapua Tech in the 83rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan. Based on the NCAA rules, Ekwe was automatically suspended after he was ejected in the Mendiola-based squad's 86-62 victory over the Altas last week for his "unsportsmanlike conduct" when he kicked Korean playmaker Sang Myeon Lee after an alley-hoop play. "It's a big challenge for the team playing without Sam. I hope that other guys will step up. We need to be composed and tough, every team in the league wants to beat us," said San Beda mentor Frankie Lim. The Red Lions hold a 2-0 slate alongside idle Knights at the top of the standings. San Beda hopes that the frontline of veteran Yousif Aljamal and promising rookie Dave Marcelo can fill the void left by Ekwe, while NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week awardee Ogie Menor, Pong Escobal and Borgie Hermida has to get their offense going. The lack of killer instinct has hounded Mapua in their first two games. The Cardinals are coming off from a 68-74 loss to the Blazers last Wednesday and without Ekwe, their big men led by Neil Pascual must be aggressive underneath the basket. PBL veterans Kelvin dela Pena, Sean Co and rookie Jonathan Banal are expected to lead the Mapua's attack in their bid to arrest their two-game losing skid. The Cardinals are winless in two games under new coach Leo Isaac. In the first game, College of Saint Benilde aims to rebound from their 84-95 loss against Letran as it meets University of Perpetual Help Dalta at 2 p.m. CSB has a 1-1 record alongside host Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian College in the middle of the pack while Perpetual is still trying to make it to the win column after two outings. After being blown off the court by the Red Lions, the Altas must try to stop slippery guard Paolo Orbeta from working wonders again for the Blazers. - GMANews.TV