NCAA: Hot Stags stake spotless record vs Pirates today

MANILA—San Sebastian tries to stay unbeaten Monday against a newcomer that has proven to be a big surprise in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

The Stags go for the solo lead with a fifth win against the overachieving Lyceum Pirates at 11:45 a.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“Lyceum is on a winning streak, so we can’t take them for granted,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson. “They’ve won four of their last five games because they’ve been playing good basketball. It’s another challenge for us.”

Jose Rizal University, coming off a remarkable comeback win against Mapua, shoots for its third victory in five games against winless Perpetual Help at 4 p.m.

The four teams’ junior counterparts collide before the senior games.

The Pirates, the lone guest team this year, tote a 4-2 record that is surpassed only by the perfect 4-0 cards of the Stags and idle defending champion San Beda.

“I give credit to the players for their hard work,” said Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan, who has been relying on Floricel Guevarra and Chris Cayab-yab. “I think the players want to prove that we deserve to play in the NCAA.”

This time Lyceum has to deal with the Stags’ big three of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual, who combined for 53 points when SSC dealt Letran a first loss, 71-62, last Wednesday.

Abueva leads the league in scoring (21.3 points per game) and assists (5.3 apg) and ranks second in rebounds (12 rpg).

“I know he (Abueva) can be a beast in the front court, but I want him to adjust also to the way players are defending him,” said Robinson. “But Calvin is Calvin. At the end of the day, he’s still the leader of this team.”