Lions, Pirates kick off finals
Game Today Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 3:30 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum (Game 1, Best-of-3 Finals)
For traditional powerhouse San Beda, it will all be about sustaining a rich winning culture. For emerging power Lyceum, it’s maximizing its truest potential.
And perhaps launch a winning tradition of its own.
All roads lead to Smart-Araneta Coliseum today as the defending champion Red Lions square off with the first time finalist Pirates in the opener of their best-of-three showdown for the 93rd NCAA seniors basketball crown.
San Beda claimed a finals slot with a 76-71 win over host San Sebastian in their knockout battle Tuesday.
The Red Lions will come to the 3:30 p.m. battle with ample confidence while the Pirates hope to take advantage of their fresher legs from a 22-day respite after wielding the big broom in the 18game elimination round.
While the Pirates are standing on an unfamiliar territory in their finals debut since joining the league in 2009, the Red Lions are back on the big stage for the 12th straight time, eager to add another jewel to their league-best haul of 20 titles.
“It’s gonna be a good fight,” said Lyceum coach Topex Robinson, who served as a TV analyst when San Beda eliminated San Sebastian. “We know that they are the defending champions and they’re the ones who have the stronger team. I’m sure it’s gonna be a good game.”
While they have plenty of experience, the Red Lions are nonetheless considered slight underdogs since they fell prey to the relentless Pirates in the elimination round.
San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, a two-time NCAA champion, is up to the daunting task at hand.
“Right now Lyceum is the best team because they beat us twice. So underdog kami. But again, we'll find a way to win. We will be ready,” he said.
Fernandez and the Red Lions can only expect the same from the Pirates.
“My job as the coach is to put them in the right frame of mind. Nandun ‘yung excitement and given naman ‘yung feelings na nararamdaman namin, but its matter of channeling it to positivity,” said Robinson.
“We’re more excited than kinakabahan. We know it’s our first time to be in this level and it’s really an unchartered territory for us. But rather than being takot, we should be excited. We know that we got nothing to lose and were happy where we are. We know we wanted to be in finals and we did everything in the best way that we can,” added Robinson.
Prolific wingman CJ Perez, the top MVP candidate, is expected to lead the way anew alongside Cameroonian big man Mike Nzeusseu, talented forwards MJ Ayaay, Reymar Caduyac, and the Marcelino twins — Jaycee and Jayvee — for a Pirates crew thriving mostly on a relentless scoring attack.
San Beda guard Robert Bolick, doit-all big man Javee Mocon and Cameroonian Donald Tankoua should set the tone for a Red Lions unit which gets the job done usually by employing a sustained defensive pressure.