Lions shoot for crown vs Warriors

San Beda tries to add the 2006 Collegiate Champions League crown to its recent NCAA title conquest as it battles UAAP’s University of the East today in the championship that for many will also decide which is the better league between the NCAA and the UAAP.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

"It’s a big challenge for us but I know we have the heart to respond to it," said San Beda coach Koy Banal, who steered the Lions to their first title in 28 years by beating the Philippine Christian U Dolphins in the final last month.

The Lions are actually favored to wrest the crown, the top purse of P500,000 worth of scholarship grants and sports equipment and the bragging rights as the country’s best collegiate school.

With Nigerian behemoth Samuel Ekwe and PBL veteran Yousif Aljamal, the NCAA rookie MVP and NCAA finals MVP, respectively, the Red Lions should indeed be installed as the favorites.

But the Warriors, who took up the cudgels for the UAAP after champion University of Santo Tomas and runner up Ateneo fell short of expectations, are all fired up to win this one.

"It’s hard to play against a team with a good system and UE has it," said Banal.

The Tigers bowed out early after losing to the Jose Rizal Bombers while the Blue Eagles fell to the Mapua Cardinals in the quarterfinals.

Both Jose Rizal and Mapua made it as far as the Final Four but lost to San Beda and UE, respectively. They dispute third place at 2 p.m.

Though they are the clear underdogs, the Warriors have beaten the Lions twice in different tournaments early this year and are looking forward to make it three in a row.

But UE mentor Dindo Pumaren opted to downplay the Warriors’ chances.

"That was before, they’re (Lions) a lot stronger now," said Pumaren.

UE actually has been playing without top gun Bon Bon Custodio, who has stopped practicing for over a month now after he was suspended by school officials in a crucial Final Four game against eventual champion UST for violation of team rules.

The Lions, however, have been doing well with Marcy Arellano, Mark Borboran, James Martinez, Kelvin Gregorio and Fradzhmir Bandaying stepping up to help power San Beda into the final and hopefully, the championship.