Archers, Lions clash for crown

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle and San Beda, two of the country’s top basketball teams, clash today for the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup title and the bragging rights as the best collegiate league in the land at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Archers, the UAAP champions, leaned on a three-point play by Santi Santillan in the stretch to overcome the Lyceum of the Phl U Pirates, 100-99, while the Lions overpowered the Jose Rizal Bombers, 80-64, in Friday’s semifinals to arrange no-tomorrow championship duel at 4 p.m.

LPU and Jose Rizal collide at 2 p.m. in a battle for third place.

La Salle will be gunning for its fifth title and San Beda its second in this annual league serving as pre-season tournament for the collegiate leagues.

San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, however, said it will all be about pride.

“Of course, we always play for school pride and we always want to make our school proud by winning the championship,” said Fernandez, back after three years coaching NLEX in the PBA.

The last time these two teams met, San Beda edged La Salle, 82-80, with Robert Bolick, a former Archer, coming through big with a game-high 27 points including clutch baskets in the stretch.

La Salle, however, is expected to make it more difficult for Bolick and the Lions in their much-awaited re-match.

“I have to watch that game again and see if we will learn from the mistakes we committed there,” said La Salle coach Aldin Ayo.

Ben Mbala is expected to be the focal point of La Salle’s attack anew as the bullstrong 6-8 Cameroonian has averaged 34 points and 16 rebounds in his last three games that kept the Archers in the title hunt.

But Ayo said they would need a total team effort to beat an equally loaded squad like San Beda.

“Ben has been playing really well the past few games but we have to play as a team and not rely on him too much for us to win,” said Ayo.