Lions eye semis bonus vs embattled Altas

MANILA, Philippines - Leader San Beda seeks a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four while Perpetual Help tries to stay in the semis hunt as they tangle in today’s resumption of the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Red Lions routed the Lyceum Pirates, 73-44, last Sept. 13 to advance to the Final Four for the ninth straight season with a 13-2 mark with another victory in their 2 p.m. encounter with the Altas assuring the reigning four-peat champions of one of the two twice-to-beat incentives in the next phase.

Arellano U (11-4) is the other team chasing the other semis bonus.

“We just want to give the school and the whole San Beda community another championship,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

But the Lions face an uphill battle against the Altas, who barely lost their first meeting, 75-77, last Aug. 6.

In fifth at 8-6 and one game behind joint third placers St. Benilde and Jose Rizal U, Perpetual Help, trying to redeem itself from an embarrassing 81-91 setback to the ousted Mapua Cardinals last Sept. 10, is also expected to go flat out for a win to stay in the semis race.

“Our last four games, including this one against San Beda, will make or break our campaign,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario.

Ranged against a fancied team, del Rosario remains confident of his wards’ chances for a reversal but stresses the need for the Altas to stay together and play as a team.

“If we stick to our game plan, we know in our hearts we can beat them (San Beda),” said del Rosario.

Interestingly, the San Beda-Perpetual Help showdown will also pit two of the league’s MVP statistical leaders – the Altas’ all-around guard Earl Scottie Thompson and the Lions’ Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun.

Meanwhile, Mapua (4-10) and Emilio Aguinaldo (3-12) clash in the 4 p.m. duel of ousted teams.