MANILA—San Beda’s big men will be in the limelight again when the Red Lions vie for a share of the lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament today.
The defending champion Lions, who seem to have adjusted minus injured star center Sudan Daniel, take on unpredictable Arellano at 4 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Newcomer Lyceum hopes to get back in the winning column in a 2 p.m. battle against a Mapua squad returning with Filipino-Palestinian Yousef Taha.
The 6-foot-7 Taha served a one-game suspension last Wednesday as the preseason favorite Cardinals dropped their second straight assignment.
San Beda coach Frankie Lim credited his big men for ably filling in for last year’s MVP Daniel, who’s out for the rest of the season due to an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.
“They’re coping up in terms of rebounding and scoring,” Lim said of his big men led by veteran centers Dave Marcelo and Kyle Pascual.
“Our bigs are not as flashy like Sudan, who gets the blocks, good rebounds and follow-up dunks. But they get the job done and that’s okay with me.”
With Garvo Lanete leading the San Beda backcourt, the Lions remain favored to join early leaders Letran and San Sebastian at 3-0.
The Chiefs, headed by Rocky Acidre and Vergel Zulueta, dropped to 1-2 after bowing to the Knights, 88-70, last Friday.
“We can’t come out flat,” said Lim. “We can’t come out thinking that we can easily beat other teams.”
It’s the same mindset for the winless Cardinals, who were tagged as contenders with a veteran lineup led by Allan Mangahas and Jonathan Banal.