Stags, Altas dispute NCAA third seed today

A PUMPED-UP San Sebastian squad squares off with a slumping Perpetual Help today in a playoff for the No. 3 seed in the Final Four of the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The winner of the 4 p.m. showdown will set up a date with No. 2 Letran in the Final Four on Nov. 7, while the loser will also have a tough task in the semifinals against top seed San Beda.

Both the Lions and the Knights will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

While the Altas and Stags finished the elimination round with identical 11-7 records, San Sebastian  will go into the game in sharper form.

The Stags won seven of their nine games in the second round of the eliminations with only San Beda posting a better record than San Sebastian during the same stretch.

“We’re just blessed to have returned to the Final Four again,” said coach Topex Robinson who spoke highly of his team which hardly merited a second look at the start of the season after losing Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual.

The Altas were actually zeroing in on a Top 2 finish, before absorbing four straight losses to end the elimination round.

But the prospects are better now for the Altas with Nigerian forward Nosa Omorogbe expected to return today after being sidelined by a knee injury the past few weeks.

Omorogbe did not suit up in the Altas’ 65-71 loss to the Stags last Oct. 19.

Omorogbe’s return couldn’t have come at a better time as Altas chief gunner Juneric Baloria has also struggled with his shots.

The Stags seem to be peaking at the right time, capping the elimination round with a 69-62 trouncing of St. Benilde last Thursday.

CJ Perez is proving to be the heir apparent of Abueva with his scoring and rebounding, while Jamil Ortuoste, Leo de Vera and Bradwyn Guinto have contributed for the Stags.