UP and down has been the start for defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 98 men’s basketball tournament.

Now, the three-peat seeking Knights aim to stay on the up and get a winning run going at the expense of the Mapua University Cardinals, whom they beat in last season’s Finals.

The Finals rematch is set on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Center, as the oldest collegiate basketball league in the country returns to action after suspending its double-header last Sunday due to Typhoon “Karding.”

Letran has not been its usual dominant self that swept all of last season when the Knights was led by Rookie-MVP awardee Rhenz Abando.

They the beat Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in their first assignment but fell to Arellano University in the second — their first loss since Game 3 of the Season 95 Finals, snapping a 14-game winning streak.

The third seed Letran rebounded last Friday with a victory over

College of Saint Benilde, but still had to douse off a fourth quarter rally by the Blazers to come away with an 80-75 win.

Knights head coach Bonnie Tan expects a tough game against the Cardinals and hopes that they can execute their game plan to a tee.

“We expect a tough game again against Mapua, almost all of the games are crucial in the start of the season,” said Letran head coach Bonnie Tan, who drew big games from Brent Paraiso and Fran Yu last timeout.

The Cardinals have not been their usual selves either, winning only one of their four games (1-3) to start the season in ninth place.

Mapua suffered its third straight defeat last Friday in a heartbreaking fashion, as University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s Cedrick Abis drilled the go-ahead trey to give the Altas a 79-77 triumph.

Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara likewise expects a rugged game against the Knights, hoping that his guards led by Paolo Hernandez can hold their own against Letran’s Yu, Paraiso, and Kobe Monje.