LYCEUM of the Philippines University seeks to stay on top as it clashes with an unpredictable Arellano University even as defending champion San Beda aims to stay close as it tackles Letran today in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.
The Pirates rolled to their third straight victory by turning back the San Sebastian Stags, 78-73, Friday and a victory today versus the Chiefs in their 2 p.m. encounter will keep their streak going while keeping their stranglehold of the lead.
CJ Perez provided the spark as he fired a team-best 20 points, while Ayaay delivered the crucial shots as he poured in six of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Pirates added the Stags to their long list of title contenders after slaying the Jose Rizal Bombers, 96-75, and the Lions, 96-91, in their first two outings.
LPU coach Topex Robinson, however, was quick to temper expectations.
“You can’t win the championship in just three games. We have to keep working harder and stay hungry to sustain this winning,” said Robinson.
The Pirates face off with another contender, the Arellano Chiefs, last year’s losing finalists who have zoomed to a 2-1 (win-loss) start after they edged the Bombers, 73-72, on a game-winning basket by Kent Salado last week.
Salado will be the player to watch after he finished with a game-best 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
“This is his team now and he is proving that he is capable of carrying this team,” said AU mentor Jerry Codinera of Salado.
San Beda, for its part, bounced back from a heartbreaking defeat to LPU by routing St. Benilde, 76-52, and Emilio Aguinaldo College, 81-69, in succession to get back on track with a 3-1 mark.
San Beda will face off with a familiar foe in Letran, which is looking to get back from a stingy 62-65 defeat to Jose Rizal Friday.
Mapua and EAC, both possessing 1-2 slates, collide at 12 noon.
Games today
(Filoil Arena, San Juan)
8 a.m.- Mapua vs EAC (jrs)
10 a.m.- AU vs LPU (jrs)
12 noon- Mapua vs EAC (srs)
2 p.m.- AU vs LPU (srs)
4 p.m.- San Beda vs Letran (srs)
6 p.m.- San Beda vs Letran (jrs)