Early clash of champs in PSSBC tournament

EXPECT an all-out war as NCAA champion San Beda College and reigning UAAP titlist National U clash today in the quarterfinal round of the 2nd Philippine Secondary School Basketball Championship (PSSBC) at the Chiang Kai Shek College in Manila.

More than the semifinal berth, a lot will be at stake when the two teams collide at 1:30 p.m.

“It’s going to be an intense and dramatic encounter because both teams are aching to win the bragging rights as the fittest and finest team in the land,” said PSSBC chair Dioceldo Sy of Ever Bilena. “So it’s going to be a war of attrition.”

With the return of UAAP Finals MVP Hubert Cani from a one-game suspension, the NU Bullpups are expected to pull all the stops to put one over their NCAA counterparts in the featured game of the exciting quadruple bill.

But the problem for NU is that San Beda is loaded with stars from almost all positions, led by Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Curacut, Adven Diputado, Jayvee Mocon and Franz Abuda.

Without Cani—the team’s do-it-all guy—the Bullpups suffered a shocking 82-64 defeat to Mapua last Wednesday, thus ending up fourth in Group A with an even 2-2 card in the tournament sponsored by Wrangler, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Ironcon, MEC Computer, Hapee, Welcoat Paints and Dickies Underwear, among others.

And that resulted to an early and unexpected showdown with the Red Cubs, who topped Group B by winning all their five games.