INQUIRER Sports

RATHER THAN BASK IN THE GLOW OF SAN Sebastian?s first-round sweep, Stags rookie coach Ato Agustin cautioned his team from falling into a false sense of security.

?Everyone will try to beat us,? said Agustin. ?That?s why we can?t afford to be overconfident.?

Expect Agustin and the Stags not to take any chances when they tackle the lowly Angeles U Foundation Great Danes today at the start of the second round NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Jose Rizal tries to return to its winning ways when it battles Perpetual Help at 4 p.m.

The Heavy Bombers are coming off a 81-95 loss to the defending champion San Beda Red Lions last week in their first meeting since last year?s finals.

The Stags are seeking to fan their winning streak to 10 and further solidify their hold of the lead.

?We?re not going to underestimate AUF but we will definitely shoot for as many wins as we can,? said Agustin, whose team will be facing a squad which has lost seven straight games.

The Stags will go into the game knowing that another sweep in the second round would assure them of a seat in the best-of-three finals while leaving the second to fourth teams after the eliminations to fight it out for the other berth in a step-ladder format.

The Altas overcame the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 86-79, for their third win against nine outings. They already surpassed their effort last season when they wound up eighth and dead last with a 2-12 mark.

?We?re making significant improvement, we hope we could get some momentum in the second round,? said Perpetual Help mentor Boris Aldeguer.

The Stags? Jimbo Aquino is the league?s leading scorer with 20.1 points per game at the end of the first round, followed by Argel Mendoza of EAC with 19.8 and Jose Rizal U?s John Wilson with 18.7.

Mendoza also leads in assists with 5.8 ppg.