San Beda overcame a tough Perpetual Help squad to clinch a 13th straight NCAA championship appearance, but it wasn’t the Red Lions’ stellar performance that played in the mind of coach Boyet Fernandez as he left the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan on Friday.
While San Beda’s 83-72 pummelling of fourth seed Perpetual showcased the Red Lions’ readiness for the finals, their multititled coach could not help but marvel at their next foe’s form.
Robert Bolick shot 23 points, including 16 in the second half, while AC Soberano found his range in the third period to lift the Red Lions to a roaring finish.
Before their match, Fernandez watched in awe as the Lyceum Pirates destroyed the Letran Knights, 109-85.
San Beda swept Lyceum in last season’s finals, but there’s no guarantee of a repeat, particularly with the way the Pirates turned a close game into a blowout in the second half against the in-form Knights.
“It will be tough to repeat,” said Fernandez.
Both teams will have more than a week to prepare before they go to battle in Game 1 on Nov. 6 at Mall of Asia Arena.
San Beda will gun for a third straight title and an 11th crown in 13 years, while Lyceum will aim anew for its first crown.