Red Lions go for sweep vs Pirates
Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 1 p.m. – Mapua vs La Salle Greenhills 3:30 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum
Defending champion San Beda tries to wield the big broom while Lyceum fights for dear life as they square off anew today in Game 2 of their best-of-three series for the 93rd NCAA seniors basketball crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is at 3:30 p.m., with the Red Lions out to pick up from where they left off following a 94-87 victory in the opener last week, complete a titleretention bid and clinch their 21st overall championship.
However, it’s easier said than done since the Pirates are determined to show their genuine resolve after absorbing a stern reality check that jolted them back to their senses following an impressive 18-game sweep of the elimination round.
Veteran tactician Boyet Fernandez, already a two-time NCAA champion coach, believes the Red Lions should brace themselves for an expected strong response from the fired-up Pirates.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban,” said Fernandez. “Alam naman natin na coach Topex (Robinson of Lyceum) is a very good coach. Game 2 will be different again. We will just be ready.”
Despite putting one over the Pirates after three tries while pushing them on the brink of a stunning downfall, Fernandez said the Red Lions still have no reason to take their bleeding rivals lightly.
“We’re still the underdogs. They beat us twice (in the elimination round) and they’re still the best,” he said. “If you total it, they’re 18-1 (win-loss record). We’re 17-2. They’re still the favorites for this (finals series). We just only won one game. We haven’t won a championship yet.”
That’s the same mindset that Robinson wants to impart to his charges, who find themselves in an unfamiliar situation where they have little room for any costly error.
“We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna play, we’re gonna compete,” said the Pirates’ ever-confident tactician. “Whatever the result is, we’ll have a peace of mind that we gave our very best. At the end of the day yun ang importante sa amin.
“We’ll be true to ourselves that this is the finals, there’s no more excuse na hindi ka magko-compete. Compete means doesn’t guarantee a win. But knowing that until that last possession, we will always honor the game and play our best basketball.”
While newly-minted MVP CJ Perez and Cameroonian big man Mike Nzeusseu continue to deliver their usual numbers, the Pirates should get more support from the likes of veterans MJ Ayaay, Reymar Caduyac and twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino if they want to force a winner-take-all showdown next week.