Red Lions, Chiefs start chase for NCAA history

MANILA, Philippines — It’s a battle between a team seeking to extend its dominance and a fast-rising squad trying to seize a golden opportunity.
San Beda goes for a fifth straight crown and an eighth title in nine years against first-time finalist Arellano University Monday in a 90th NCAA basketball championship round that is expected to go down the wire at Mall of Asia Arena.

Game 1 of the best-of-three finals starts at 4 p.m. just after the San Beda Red Cubs and Mapua Red Robins also kick off their finals series in the juniors division.

No team has a distinct edge over the other in terms of manpower, but the Red Lions have experience on their side with the bulk of the team having been part of recent title conquests.

With a lineup made up mostly of seniors, there’s a prevailing feeling among the Chiefs that their time to win it all has come.

“We want to make history,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera who engineered a turnaround for a team that won just six games last season. “We will fight all the way.”

“The five-peat remains our goal and we will do everything to make it happen,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, who is trying to steer the Lions to a record 19th title. “We respect Arellano but we are also after that championship.”

The Lions and Chiefs split their first two meetings this season before San Beda unleashed its fury with a 97-69 rout of Arellano in the playoff for the No. 1 seed last Oct. 10.

Both teams didn’t need their twice-to-beat edge to reach the finals with San Beda trouncing No. 4 Perpetual Help, 81-75, and Arellano ousting Jose Rizal U, 72-65, in the Final Four.

While the Lions have leaned on a structured offensive game plan and a stout defense, the Chiefs have been successful with their run-and-gun game that saw them lead the league in fastbreak points and steals this season.