Games  today: (Lyceum gym)

5:30 p.m. -- Mapua  vs.  MOB
7 p.m. -- UST vs. Lyceum


MAPUA  tries  to  clinch  the fourth  and   last  semis  berth when  it  takes  on   MOB in  the   MBL  Invitational  basketball  championship  at the   Lyceum gym in Intramuros today.

Handled by  coach  Chito Victolero, the Cardinals  need  only to win  over MOB  to  complete the  semifinal cast in  this  tough,  10-team  tournament  sponsored  by  Smart Sports, Cebuana   Lhuillier,  Dickies Underwear, PRC  Couriers  and Parola  Maritime.

At 5-3, the Cardinals can   lock up  the No. 3 spot and  a  knockout  semifinal  duel with No. 2  team   Jose  Rizal  University  with a win over MOB.

Actualy,  Mapua will  finish in a  tie  with  Skyforce   at 6-3, but will  clinch No. 3 spot by virtue of  the  winner-over-the other rules. (Mapua defeated  Skyforce)

A  Mapua victory will also formally  slam  the  door on Wang’s  Ballclub, which  remains in contention with a 4-4 win-loss record and a still inplayed  game  left against  defending  champion University  of  Santo-Tomas-Ironcon  Builders on Saturday.

A combination of a Mapua loss and Wang’s victory over UST will  result in a  three-way tie for   the  fourth  and  last semis berth.

The  FIBA  quotient system of  breaking   ties will  then be aplied.

MOB,  however,  can snatch the fourth semis berth outright with a  victory over Mapua and a loss by  Wang’s  to  UST-Ironcon.

MOB and Mapua will both finish with 5-4 slates, while Wang’s will end up at 4-5.

The Richie Melencio-mentored  MOB will then edge out Mapua  for the  last semis berth  by virtue of winner-over-the-other rule.

Regardless of  the   outcome of its games against Lyceum  of  the Philippines-Yummy Hotdogs and Wang’s, UST-Ironcon  is assured of  the   No. 1 spot in   the semis and a  knockout match against the No. 4 team.

JRU, which  is  being  handled by  PBA  legend-turned-coach  Vergel Meneses,  wound  up second  in   the   elimination  round with a 7-2  record.

The  Heavy Bombers’ two setbacks came at the hands of UST-Ironcon  and  Skyforce.

Already out  of  contention  are Letran College, Investwell, Lyceum-Yummy  and  Trinity University-NowTV.

Tournament director is Albert Andaya, while commisisoner is Loreto “Ato” Tolentino.