THE DEFENDING champion San Beda Red Lions start their bid for a record 10th straight finals appearance and a possible unprecedented sixth straight championship when they take on the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the Final Four of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Lions do not only enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against the Heavy Bombers, they are also coming into today’s match with a full arsenal led by veterans Baser Amer, Art dela Cruz and Ola Adeogun.
The Lions and the Bombers play at 4 p.m., after the other Final Four pairing between the Letran Knights and the Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m. The second-seeded Knights also enjoy a twice-to-beat edge over the Cardinals.
“I’m very happy, I have 15 players ready to play,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin of his wards. The Red Lions turned back the Knights last Wednesday, 83-85 to take the no. 1 spot in the playoffs.
The Heavy Bombers, meanwhile, are coming off a 76-81 loss to the Cardinals in their battle for the no. 2 spot. The loss sent them into a collision with the Red Lions.
The Bombers, however, will have one key player back in the line-up in Paolo Pontejos, who did not see action in the team’s last two games following the death of his father Joey two weeks ago due to a heart attack.
The Knights, meanwhile, will also try to bounce back from their setback to the Red Lions when they battle the dangerous Cardinals.
Letran coach Aldin Ayo said the Knights have learned valuable lessons from their loss to the Red Lions.
“We did our best pero hindi napunta sa amin. That’s just basketball. I’m proud of my players. Again, hindi sila matatalo ng ganu’n kadali lang. We are going to always put up a fight,” said Ayo.
Against the Cardinals, Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal and Rey Nambatac will be key players for the Knights, who are back in the finals after falling short last season.
Nambatac suffered a severe ankle sprain after he stepped on Olaide Adeogun’s foot in their last outing against the Lions, but is expected to play in today’ s match.
Cardinals’ coach Atoy Co, meanwhile, said their stint in the Final Four, their first since 2010 is already “a dream come true” for him.
In the junior stepladder semifinals, the Arellano Braves come into their 12 noon showdown with the second-seed Mapua Red Robins fresh from a 75-74 win over La Salle Greenhills.
Games Tuesday
(MOA Arena, Pasay)
12 nn. • Mapua vs Arellano (jrs)
2 p.m. • Letran vs Mapua (srs)
4 p.m. • San Beda vs. Jose Rizal (srs)