The defending champion San Beda Red Lions enters the second round of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament today an unbeaten team at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center.
With the Lions’ clean 9-0 win-loss slate, coach Boyet Fernandez is not keen on taking the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals lightly in their 12 noon encounter.
Not after the Red Lions encountered a tough Mapua Cardinals’ team, whom they beat, 69-60, last Friday.
In that game, the Cardinals rallied and almost took the lead. But a timely triple from Calvin Oftana save the day for the Red Lions.
“You really have to prepare every game, you don’t really underestimate any other team. I hope it’s a wake-up call for everyone especially my players. This season is not an easy one for us,” said Fernandez.
In another game, the Lyceum Pirates will try to pick up the pieces from their 81-87 upset to the Arellano Chiefs, whom they will meet again at 2 p.m.
The Pirates share the same 6-3 record at second spot with the San Sebastian Stags and the Letran Knights, who will take on the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers at 4 p.m.
In the junior side, the San Red Cubs (8-1) will meet the EAC Brigadiers at 8 a.m., while the Lyceum Junior Pirates will play against the Staglets at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, La Salle Greenhills is set to regain the junior overall crown of the NCAA Swimming Championships at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The Greenies leaned on the performances of Ted Jacob Laminta, Andrei Vaugh Aquino and Jalil Sephraim Taguinod, who had a gold each for LSGH in the closing events of the four-day meet.
Laminta took the gold medal the 400-meter freestyle event, while Aquino topped the 50m butterfly and SephraimTaguinod ruled the 200m breaststroke event.
The Greenies also dominated the relay event in another record-breaking performance of Enrique San Diego, Jaren Tan, Sean Cruz & Andrei Aquino.
This was after the Greenies clocked a new record time of 1:41.52 in the boys’ 4x50m freestyle relays. Peter Atencio
On the other hand, Gian Karlo De Guzman again saved San Beda’s day three campaign in the juniors division with another gold in the 200m backstroke event.
With a day left, LSGH leads the team standings with 870 points, followed by San Beda with 599.5 points, and Letran with 231.5
San Beda has earlier dominated the seniors' men’s and women’s division.
Their gold medals came from John Henry Gurango (400m freestyle), Fritz Rodriguez (200m breaststroke), Gwyneth Amber Cawaling (400m freestyle), Chloe Medina (100m backstroke), Katrina Mae Garcia (200m breaststroke) and the men’s 4x50m freestyle relay team.
College of St. Benilde, which is in second, got a gold from Aziz Jan Pukunum, while broke the men’s 100m backstroke record with his gold medal time of 1:01.15.
CSB also swept the gold in the 50m butterfly event through Christopher Wong and Justine Anne Abastillas in the men’s and women’s divisions.