San Beda and Mapua aim to tighten their grip on the second spot when they collide with separate rivals on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Red Lions gun for a fifth straight victory in their 11 a.m. confrontation with the Lyceum Pirates, while the Cardinals aim for a follow up of their recent victory when they square off with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at 2:30 p.m.

Toting identical 7-3 win-loss cards, a victory for both San Beda and Mapua would put them half a game behind league-leading College of St. Benilde (8-2).

The Red Lions appeared to be peaking at the right time in their title-retention campaign, displaying their prowess in their previous games including a 79-65 triumph over the Arellano Chiefs last Saturday, Oct. 12.

Apart from Yukien Andrada and Jomel Puno, who has been consistently providing solid numbers, San Beda coach Yuri Escueta also casts his eyes on Bismarck Lin after erupting for 20 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action the last time.

But Lyceum is coming off a morale-boosting 91-68 drubbing of Letran at the start of the second-round action last Friday, Oct. 11, improving their tally to 5-5 in the middle standings.

The Pirates are also looking at avenging their 79-63 opening-day loss to the Red Lions last Sept. 7, with Renz Villegas, John Barba and John Bravo out to fuel their assault.

In the other meeting, Mapua and EAC are also out to keep their momentum going after recent victories.

The Cardinals aim for a repeat performance of their 69-66 first-round win over the Generals last Sept. 11, with Clint Escamis, Chris Hubilla and Marc Cuenco at the forefront of their attack.

But EAC, who is riding on a two-game winning run that put them at 5-5, has its own arsenal in King Gurtiza spearheading its charge.