With its sweep bid spoiled, Lyceum of the Philippines University vents its ire on Arellano University today and tries to close in on a Final Four berth in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
On the verge of sweeping the elimination round and zooming straight to the finals for the second straight season, the Pirates were hijacked by the overachieving Perpetual Help Altas in a painful 81-83 defeat Tuesday and that burst their sweep bubble.
It also sent LPU to its first defeat after starting the season with a 12-game juggernaut.
They would have to start piling up wins again as the Pirates tackle the Chiefs, who possess a 4-8 (win-loss) mark.
LPU coach Topex Robinson, however, said it’s not the end of the world for them.
“We just have to learn from it and try to improve every game,” said Robinson.
With LPU’s streak halted, San Beda now owns the longest active streak this year at six and the reigning titlist is expected to extend it to seven as it squares off with a renewed San Sebastian at 4 p.m.
The Stags, however, have racked up three wins in row capped by an 82-75 win over the Jose Rizal Bombers a week ago, to leapfrog from the bottom to joint seventh with the Mapua Cardinals on 4-9 cards.
And San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez has a reason to be wary.
“They are playing really well in their recent games and we expect a really tough game,” said Fernandez.
