Stags, Red Lions clash for top spot Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines—San Sebastian and San Beda dispute the top spot at the end of the elimination round when they collide Wednesday in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Stags try to finish the elimination round with a 17-1 slate with a repeat win over the second-running Lions, who could snatch the top seed if they prevail by at least three points over San Sebastian.

San Beda’s Red Cubs earlier gun for an 18-game sweep of the elimination round against San Sebastian in the lone juniors division game at 2 p.m.

The Cubs, seeking a third straight crown, will gain an outright finals berth with a victory against the Staglets, who are already out of Final Four contention with an 8-9 record.

San Sebastian, steadier at crunchtime, nipped San Beda, 79-77, in a highly physical duel last August.

“San Beda has improved, so we expect a tough battle,” said San Sebastian rookie coach Topex Robinson, whose Stags are coming off an 80-68 triumph over Lyceum last week.

Save for their overtime loss to Letran, the Stags have shown just a few chinks on their armor this season. But they will be facing a San Beda squad that has found its rhythm late in the season.

The Lions will also go into the game inspired by their 88-64 rout of Letran last week.

“We’ve been preparing for them for quite some time now,” SBC coach Frankie Lim said of the Stags. “There’s a lot of motivation against San Sebastian.”

San Beda will be looking to stop the trio of Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang, who have been the focal point of the Stags’ offense this season.

Garvo Lanete will spearhead the Lions anew after firing 28 points in the win over Letran.

Lim is also hoping for consistency from Anthony Semerad, who shot 16 against the Knights after missing most of the season because of injury.