Unbeaten Pirates go for No. 4; Lions, Knights collide

Lyceum, a team that is turning heads for its heady play and the mentality instilled by its coach, shoots for a fourth straight victory, while San Beda rekindles its rivalry with Letran on Wednesday in NCAA Season 93 basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Pirates tangle with the dangerous Arellano Chiefs at 2 p.m. before the Red Lions and the Knights collide in their first meeting of the season.

Mapua and Emilio Aguinaldo College hope to get back on track when they square off in the noontime tip-off.

Hailed for putting emphasis on his players’ academics, coach Topex Robinson hopes the Pirates’ early success “will inspire others and give them hope.”

“Winning is the result of our vision, and we want to make sure we inspire others,” said Robinson.

San Beda and Letran ruled the last two seasons of the league, but the Knights are the underdogs heading into the clash as the Red Lions kept their seasoned and talented core from last season.

“It will really be a tough matchup,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “Letran is a physical team, that’s their brand of game. We will just have to be ready for the physicality and hopefully the referees will call it right.”

Following the 62-65 loss to Jose Rizal U on Friday, Letran coach Jeff Napa shifted his focus to their game with the Lions.

“We’re going all out,” said Napa. “We’ll not allow them to just beat us. We will bounce back strong and execute.”

Fernandez, whose team’s lone loss came against Lyceum, said starting strong would be the key against the Knights.

“We started really flat against EAC and St. Benilde,” said Fernandez. “We will address that because we’re facing a formidable team in Letran.” —CEDELF P. TUPAS