Games today: (Lyceum gym)

7 p.m. -- UST-Ironcon vs. Investwell
8:30 p.m. -- Letran vs. Mapua


UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas-Ironcon Builders seeks its fifth  straight  win  and a  share of the lead when it  takes on  Investwell in the  MBL Invitational Cup  basketball championship at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros, Manila.

The Tigers, who are  gunning for their second straight MBL title this year under coach Pido Jarencio and  manager Jimi Lim, swept their first  four games against Letran College (77-60), MOB Packers (100-72),  Skyforce ( 84-65) and Mapua (59-55) in this tough, 10-team  tournament supported by  Smart  Sports, Cebuana Lhuillier, Dickies underwear, PRC Corueirs and Parola Maritime.

The Tigers, who bagged the title in the  MBL  Open Conference last May,  will rely anew on Jeric Teng,  Julius  Fortuna, Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Louie Vigil,  Kim  Lo  and Kareem Abdul to  keep  their  perfect record and join  Jose Rizal University as the only unbeaten teams.

The  only other unbeatean team is  Jose Rizal University, with 5-0  win-loss record.

“This will be our first game in the new year, so the boys are raring to get back into action after the long holiday break.  This will be a good test for the team,” said Jarencio.

Investwell won its first two assignments against MOB Packers and  Wang’s Ballclub but lost the next  three against Trinity, JRU and Letran.

Investwell is being handled by coach Joel Jabar and bannered by Mark Pangilinan,  Reggie Malinao, Ronald Roy, Eric Echane and Floyd Dedicatoria.

Letran  and Mapua clash in an all-NCAA encounterat 8:30 p.m.

The Knights and the Cardinals both have 2-2 slates, with both teams coming off  a pair of heard-earned wins against Investwell and Lyceum of the Philippines University-Yummy Hotdogs.

The Knights of coach Louie Alas  will pin their  hopes anew on thye high-scoring Kevin Alas, Raymond  Almazan, Kevin Kent Racal, Jonathan Belorio and Marvin Cruz.

The  Chito Victolero-mentored Cardinals will lean on Gabriel Banal, Mike  Parala, Kenneth Ighalo and Josan Nimes.

Albert Andaya is the tournament director, while Loreto “Ato” Tolentino is the commissioner.