San Beda and Jose Rizal U clash today in Game One of their best-of-three showdown for the NCAA men’s basketball crown with the Red Lions eyeing to complete a three-peat and the Heavy Bombers seeking to end a long title drought.
This marks the first time in 41 years that the two teams are meeting in the finals with odds just about even between a team out to put the groundwork for a dynasty and the other to complete its date with destiny.
Gametime is at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s my second finals appearance. The first time was against Letran. It was tough and I think this time it’s going to be tougher because Jose Rizal has the materials to match up with us,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim whose Lions survived the Mapua Cardinals in sudden death, 60-53, at the Astrodome last Monday for the right to face the Bombers in the finals.
“It’s going to be destiny versus dynasty. Jose Rizal is not just hungry but starving for this chance,” said Jose Rizal mentor Ariel Vanguardia.
The Bombers, who gained the No. 2 seeding in the Final Four, downed the Letran Knights in the Final Four to clinch the first championship berth.
With Vanguardia at the helm, JRU transformed from a whipping squad into a championship caliber team in three years with the Bombers looking for their first crown since 1972.
San Beda, the back-to-back champion, is gunning for its 13th crown overall as it tries to inch closer to the league-best of 16 titles won by Letran and 14 by Ateneo, now with the UAAP.
The Lions are also hoping to join the elite club of three-peat winners headed by the San Sebastian Stags, who had a five peat from 1993-1997.
San Beda actually did the trick from 1934-37 while Ateneo and Letran reigned in 1931-34 and 1982-84, respectively.
“We have to do more sacrifices to stay in shape. We need to stay sharp in the finals,” said Lim.
The Bombers surprised the Lions in the first round of elimination, 79-74, to underscore their readiness for a title shot but the Lions roared back to even things up with a 71-59 rout in the second round.
“I am sure he (Vanguardia) wants to win a championship but I want it more. I think that will be the difference,” said Lim, who believes San Beda has the edge because of their championship experience.
“I want to win regardless of whether it’s two games, three games, I don’t care. I want to win,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian goes for its fourth straight title as it squares off with Letran in their own best-of-three series for the NCAA junior crown starting at 2 p.m.
The Staglets are gunning for a fifth crown overall while the Squires is eyeing their 11th crown.