Pirates, Lions dispute NCAA lead
Only one team will remain undefeated as Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Beda University meet in a titanic finals rematch today in Season 94 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The Pirates (7-0) and the Red Lions (5-0) clash head-on in the 4 p.m. main game, with the winner getting the top spot in the 10-team standings.
Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson is looking forward to their first encounter against back-to-back defending champion San Beda this season.
“For sure, it’s going to be a good game. Again, the thing about San Beda is every time we play them there’s so much honor and respect for each other. We know that anybody could get the win,” said Robinson.
Last season, the Pirates tamed the Lions twice en route to a sweep of the 18-game elimination round. San Beda, however, roared back in the finals and swept the over-achieving Lyceum.
San Beda University’s Javee Mocon goes for a jump shot during an NCAA game at The Arena in San Juan City. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA
Robinson, though, is downplaying the impact of today’s tiff, saying, “We’re not going to base everything just because of this game. For us, it’s about getting ourselves better.”
San Beda’s bemedalled hoops tactician Boyet Fernandez, meanwhile, is seeing his Lions as the underdogs but vows to go for a repeat of their victories over the Pirates in the finals last year.
“We all know that Lyceum right now is the best team,” said Fernandez. “But again, as what I’ve said, we’ll find a way to win. We did find a way to win last year, we can do it again.”
Fernandez also acknowledged the improvements that Robinson’s crew had during the offseason.
In the game day opener at 2 p.m., No. 5 Letran (4-3) seeks to snap a two-game losing skid even as No. 7 Mapua University (2-6) eyes to end a four-game slump and close the first round on a bright note.
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