Lions going for the jugular

For the San Beda Red Lions, it’s all about execution after working hard the past six days in preparation for their bid to retain the men’s NCAA crown today.

“The coaching staff believe we have prepared the team enough to get it done,” said coach Frankie Lim, confident of another victory over the Letran Knights in Game Two of their best-of-three title showdown.

In fact, the Bedan community is already bracing for a big bash after the 4 p.m. main match at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I think we’re ready to face Letran in Game Two,” said San Beda top player Yousif Aljamal, who is expected to join Talk n Text in the coming PBA season.

But Letran coach Louie Alas believes they have a good chance of extending the series, saying they have also done their assignments during the weeklong break.

“If we could make it one-game all, it’s anybody’s game in the sudden death,” said Alas, whose rookie-laden team remains the underdog in the series.

The Knights used a great defensive effort to put up a fighting stand in Game One, forcing the Lions to scramble in the fourth quarter before eventually winning the contest.

During the break, San Beda tried to find ways to counter Letran’s pressing defense, double-team on Pong Escobal and physical play on Sam Ekwe at the paint.

“We’ll see if we have done our homework,” said Lim.

Meanwhile, San Sebastian goes for a three-peat in junior play as it takes on Letran at 2 p.m.

Individual awards will be announced in between the two championship games with SSC’s Ryan Buenafe poised to run away with the juniors’ MVP and Mapua’s Kelvin dela Pena winning the coveted plum in the seniors division.

“We practiced very well this past week. The team is in great shape, the team is sharp,” said Lim.

The Lions worked out  for six straight days from Tuesday to avoid getting rusty or losing their momentum after taking Game One, 76-68, last Sunday.

The team is out to score back-to-back NCAA championships, which it last achieved in 1977-78 with Lim among the key players along with Jayvee Yango, Chito Loyzaga and Chuck Barreiro.

San Beda, the only remaining league pioneer member with 12 NCAA crowns to its credit, has other successive championships in 1934-36 and 1951-52.