Red Lions seek record 15th straight win

MANILA, Philippines–SAN BEDA tries to match the record 15-game unbeaten start achieved by San Sebastian last season as it tangles with rival Letran today in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is 4 p.m. with the Lions also looking to move within a victory of an elimination-round sweep and an outright championship berth.

San Sebastian takes on an already-eliminated Arellano squad in the first game at 2 p.m.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim insists that he has not entertained thoughts of a sweep just yet, with two games remaining in their schedule.

“It’s going to be tough, but we’ll see after the Letran game,” said Lim.

San Beda and Letran form one of the league’s oldest rivalries and their games have been marked by tight, physical contests.

But that has changed this season with the Lions, parading a beefed up roster, proving dominant in scoring a rare rout of the Knights in the first round.

Unlike the Knights, who are already out of the running for a Final Four spot, the Lions will have more at stake in the game.

The Lions are coming off a 78-46 rout of Final Four-bound Jose Rizal U last Monday.

“No matter how dominant we are in the elimination round, it’s not going to mean anything if we don’t win the championship,” said Lim.

The Stags turned back the hard-fighting Mapua Cardinals, 85-76, also last Monday to clinch their 13th win in 14 matches and the other twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

The Stags’ semifinal bonus though will be put to naught if San Beda goes on to sweep the elimination round.

If that happens, the stepladder semifinals will be applied with No. 3 JRU and No. 4 Mapua facing each other in a knockout duel and the winner advancing opposite the No. 2 seed for the second finals berth.

“Hopefully, we can force a Final Four,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin.