Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Lyceum shoots for a finals berth against a San Beda team looking to preserve its own seven-year-old record on the final day of the elimination round of NCAA Season 93 at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
“It just another opportunity for us to inspire,” said Lyceum coach Topex Robinson, choosing to downplay the much-awaited rematch of their thrilling 96-91 win last July 14.
A win by the Pirates will give them a perfect elimination round record (18-0) and seed them straight to the Finals. It will also deprive the Lions of a twice-to-beat edge.
Instead, San Beda will be the waiting team in a stepladder semifinal. The survivor of the grueling semifinal climb will face Lyceum in a best-of-three title showdown. Under a new league rule, the Pirates will no longer own a thrice-to-beat advantage in the Finals.
San Beda can claim the No. 1 seed with at least a six-point victory. A victory by the Lions regardless of the margin will put the traditional Final Four format in play, with the Top 2 teams having a twice-to-beat edge.