Lions, Pirates renew rivalry

San Beda University seeks to protect its hold of the lead when it clashes with rival Lyceum of the Philippines University in Season 95 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Game time is at 4 p.m. with the Red Lions roaring for their seventh straight win in the oldest collegiate tournament in the country.

Meanwhile, University of Perpetual Help marches without multi-titled head coach Frankie Lim when it clashes with Emilio Aguinaldo at 2 p.m. while Letran battles San Sebastian College in the 12 p.m. first game of this explosive triple-header.

Lim, a celebrated mentor after winning numerous titles for San Beda in the past, was placed “on leave” following a humiliating 56-102 setback to the Red Lions on Friday. Assistant coach Myk Saguitsit will temporarily take over.

With that 46-point win over their former mentor the Red Lions are tipped to march with high morale as they battle the Pirates, whom they have been facing in the finals for the past couple of years.

“We keep winning ballgames because of our defense — not offense. We need to be consistent with our defense to keep on winning,” said San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez.

Fernandez has quite a lot to bank on as Donald Tankoua and AC Soberano fired 15 points apiece while Evan Nelle and Clint Doliguez churned 12 markers apiece against the Altos bringing Red Lions’ four-peat bid a step closer to reality.

“Everybody’s excited for Tuesday. For us it’s a big game because Lyceum is one of the best teams in the league,” Fernandez said.