Grudge match: Red Lions, Knights dispute solo lead

CLASHING for the first time since last year’s championship series, defending champion San Beda and Letran dispute the solo lead today in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Gametime is 6 p.m. with the Lions seeking to extend their winning run to six games against a Letran squad that just absorbed its first setback of the season.

Jose Rizal U shoots for a third straight win in the 4 p.m. duel with Arellano. (The games will be aired starting at 4 p.m. on AksyonTV.)

The spotlight will be on the San Beda-Letran clash which will determine the squad that tops the first round.

The Knights saw their seven game winning run ended by a resurgent Perpetual Help squad, 66-80, last week.

But Letran coach Caloy Garcia took the defeat in stride.

“It was better to lose now than later in the tournament,” he said, “At least, the pressure of going unbeaten is no longer there.”

The Knights will be looking to gain some measure of revenge after losing to the Lions in the finals last season.

“It’s going to be tough (against Letran), but my players have prepared well,” said Lions coach Boyet Fernandez.  Cedelf P. Tupas