An opportunity to have three days of rest became 15 days, or more than two weeks for the defending champion San Beda University Red Lions.
After missing two games because of bad weather, the Red Lions now have a chance to recover from injuries and fatigue that members of its team sustained and felt when action in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament resumes today at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Red Lions are expected to be a stronger team when they clash with the Letran Knights at 2 p.m. today.
“It’s the first time na mahaba-haba ang pahinga nila. And we have to come up with good defensive schemes,” said SBU coach Boyet Fernandez.
The Red Lions are unbeaten and they share the lead with the College of St. Benilde Blazers.
Getting past the Knights will allow the Red Lions to move ahead of the Blazers with their fifth straight win.
And they will be playing their toughest game yet after hurdling the San Sebastian Stags, 73-59, last July 26.
The Knights, who got 10 days or more than a week’s to rest following many cancellations of games, have a 5-1 slate after their 89-84 triumph over the Mapua Cardinals last July 30.
Beating the Red Lions will be their chance to gain solo third in the standings.
The Arellano Chiefs (1-4) will meet the Mapua Cardinals (0-5) at 4 p.m.
In the junior division, the San Beda Red Cubs will play without Rhayyan Amsali, when they clash with the Letran Squires at 12 noon.
Amsali was suspended following San Beda’s showdown with La Salle Green Hills, after he reportedly elbowed Lennox Valenzuela late in the fourth quarter and no whistle was blown.
Based on replay reviews after the game, however, the NCAA determined that Amsali should have been called for a foul.
Organizers called off yesterday’s games after the cities of Manila and San Juan declared suspensions of classes for all levels. Mancom chairman Peter Cayco of host Arellano University said cancelled matches will be played on a date and time to be determined later.