Perpetual Help, JRU face off for share of early lead; San Sebastian clashes with Mapua

San Sebastian is looking for its second straight win against Mapua while Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal University aim for a share of the early lead in NCAA Season 89 action on Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

The Stags take on the Cardinals at 4 p.m. followed by the Altas facing the Heavy Bombers for a share of the early lead along with idle Letran at 6 p.m.

Rookie Jamil Ortouste, who scored 28 points in the Stags’ 78-76 triumph over Arellano last week, aims to deliver once again for San Sebastian, which has split its first two matches of the season.

But the Cardinals may have been inspired by their last outing to give San Sebastian a tough fight.

Mapua rallied from 20 points down against JRU and almost completed a comeback, but Philip Paniamogan exploded in the fourth quarter to propel the Heavy Bombers to an 83-72 victory last week.

After that performance, JRU is expected to lean once again on Paniamogan, who scored 24 points in his last outing, in its match against Perpetual in the second game.

The Heavy Bombers face a tough assignment against Perpetual, which routed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-49, last week behind the solid performance of big man Nosa Omorogbe, who scored 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.

AksyonTV, TV5′s TV5′s news and sports-related channel, begins live coverage at 4 p.m. Games air over Channel 41 in Metro Manila and Channel 29 in Cebu and Davao on free television, Channel 59 on SKY Cable, and Channel 1 on Cignal Digital TV. Replay of the games will be broadcast over HYPER Channel 53 on Cignal Digital TV.