Defending champion San Beda hopes to return to winning ways as it battles Lyceum in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
A victory in the 4 p.m. duel with the Pirates will give the Red Lions a share of top spot with the Letran Knights, who lost to the Mapua Cardinals last Tuesday.
It’s actually been a rough week for the top two teams in the league with San Beda also losing last Thursday to Perpetual Help, 86-88.
The Lions hope to buck the trend against a Lyceum squad no longer in the running for a spot in the Final Four. But San Beda will miss key reserve Michole Sorela who serves a suspension after committing a disqualifying foul on Perpetual Help’s Kevin Oliveria.
“We have another chance to do what we couldn’t do the last game,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, ruing his squad’s inability to finish off the Altas last week. “Hopefully we could execute this time.”
San Sebastian (3-10) and Emilio Aguinaldo (2-11) collide in a battle of eliminated teams at 2 p.m.
The Lions are expected to come out strong with the trio of Ola Adeogun, Arthur dela Cruz and Baser Amer leading the charge.
The 6-foot-8 Adeogun is back in top form, after finishing with 26 points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes.
Lyceum has lost three straight games, but the Pirates are encouraged by the steady rise of Cameroonian center Jean Victor Nguidjol and the return of Joseph Gabayni.