Defending champion San Beda and Perpetual Help try to keep their lofty positions when they collide with separate rivals today in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Lions shoot for a second straight victory against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at 4 p.m. with Nigerian center Ola Adeogun making his NCAA debut, after serving a four-game suspension.
The Altas—one of the surprise leaders early in the season after winning three of their first four games—test the St. Benilde Blazers at 6 p.m.
Focus will be on the 6-foot-7 Adeogun, who is expected to make an immediate impact for the Lions because of his imposing inside presence.
Adeogun was suspended for his role in the brawl on the sidelines of a women’s volleyball match last December.
“Ola (Adeogun) hasn’t played for two months, but he can give us his size and strength inside which is what we really need right now,” said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Perpetual Help is coming off a morale-boosting 88-87 overtime victory over San Beda last Thursday in a game where they survived a couple of buzzer-beating shots, including a length-of-the-court heave from Baser Amer that forced overtime.
Altas coach Aric del Rosario said the win against San Beda will only make things more difficult for his team this season.
“All the teams will take us seriously now because we beat San Beda,” said Del Rosario.
The Altas will pin their hopes on Earl Thompson and ace shooter Jett Vidal, who tallied 29 points in the victory against San Beda.