AFTER proving they’re still the best in the varsity level, La Salle and San Beda clash for the championship of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The UAAP champion Green Archers and the NCAA titlists Red Lions dispute the summer basketball crown in the do-or-die finals of what started as a 21-team field at 4 p.m.
“This is our last game and we want to finish strong and win the championship,” said Archer Arnold Van Opstal, who’s expected to be at the forefront of a key battle among the big men.
The Archers and Lions arranged the title showdown after surviving a pair of unlikely but gung-ho semifinalists last Friday.
“We’re playing a tough team,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “It’s the battle of the champions, so I hope we play like a champion.”
Led by Ola Adeogun and Art dela Cruz, the Lions pulled off a 63-62 escape over the erstwhile unbeaten Centro Escolar U in the Final Four.
The Archers also leaned on the big plays of Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros, Norbert Torres and Van Opstal to turn back Southwestern University, 72-64.
“We had too many turnovers in the past games, that’s something we have to address,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler.
Fernandez, meanwhile, hopes Adeogun and the rest of his big men will stay out of foul trouble.
“It’s going to be a tough match up for my bigs,” said Fernandez, noting the consistent performances of La Salle’s Van Opstal, Torres, Jason Perkins and Yutien Andrada. “We just have to limit our fouls so we can match up with the bigs of La Salle.”
Van Opstal said even if the La Salle veterans have been taking charge, their new recruits led by Fil-Am Julian Sargent and NCAA juniors MVP Prince Rivero should be among the players to watch.
“We can still unleash more of our rookies,” said Van Opstal. “I think there’s a lot more to be seen.”