La salle and San Beda try to arrange a battle of champions as they clash with two unexpected semifinalists in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup today.
But the Green Archers, the reigning UAAP titlist, expect a solid competitor in Southwestern University in their knockout semifinal match at 2 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
And it’s the same for the Red Lions, the four-time NCAA champion who are wary of an upset-conscious Centro Escolar University in their own do-or-die duel at 4 p.m.
“We cannot say that CEU is a pushover,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “They’re really a strong team.”
The CEU Scorpions, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, stunned several favorites to complete a 6-0 sweep of the eliminations before routing Lyceum in the quarterfinals, 64-51, last Monday.
“I’m not surprised that CEU made it to the semifinals,” Fernandez said after his Lions also advanced to the Final Four following an 88-81 tripping of National University in the quarterfinals last Wednesday.
“They (Scorpions) made it to the quarterfinals in (the PBA) D-League. The experience they got in D-League helped them a lot.”
La Salle coach Juno Sauler also thinks there’s no room to relax against the SWU Cobras even after ousting the erstwhile unbeaten Far Eastern University in a gritty quarterfinal win, 94-89.
“It’s going to be a tough fight,” said Sauler. “They have a very strong team with (Landry) Sanjo. They have a very good backcourt with (Mark) Tallo and (Jasper) Parker.”
The Cebu-based Cobras topped Group A with a 5-1 card before disposing of Jose Rizal University, 65-57, in the quarterfinals.
Sanjo thinks the Cobras can avenge their lone elimination loss, 59-64, against the Archers, who are favored with Jeron Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, Jason Perkins, Almond Vosotros and Thomas Torres.
“Their wings and Vosotros killed us last time,” said Sanjo, a 6-foot-6 Cameroonian. “If we can defend against them, it will be a perfect game.”