INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—San Beda College shoots for a share of the lead when it clashes with San Sebastian College on Monday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

A victory in the 2 p.m. encounter will send the two-time defending champion Red Lions on equal footing with last year’s losing finalist Letran College at three wins in as many games.

“We have to overachieve if we want to beat San Sebastian,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, whose Lions needed a last-quarter blast from Borgie Hermida and Riego Gamalinda to rally past the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, 72-63, Wednesday.

The win still left Lim worried as his players started out flat.

“We can’t afford to let that happen again or we will only make it difficult for ourselves,” Lim added.

Meanwhile, a PCU squad playing its fourth game in as many playdates hopes to finally nail its first victory against struggling University of Perpetual Help Altas at 4 p.m.

Coach Joel Dualan has blamed the Dolphins’ lack of preparation for their woes two weeks into their comeback season.

“Playing in the NCAA is no joke,” he said. “One month of preparation is just not enough.”

The Lions are expected to miss backup power forward Elvin Jake Pascual, who has been hospitalized because of a still undetermined illness. Lim said Pascual was sidelined by a flu virus Saturday. Cedelf P. Tupas