MANILA, Philippines - San Beda hopes to continue to fuel its fiery streak as it shoots for its 10th straight win against Emilio Aguinaldo today in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Defending champion San Sebastian, meanwhile, seeks to stay close to the leader as it guns for a ninth win against St. Benilde in the first game at 2 p.m.
Led by MVP candidate Sudan Daniel’s 14 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, the Lions pummeled the Blazers, 89-70, to extend their amazing run to nine wins.
The Stags, for their part, bounced back from a stinging 76-88 defeat at the hands of the Lions last Aug. 18 with an 81-63 bashing of the Generals Monday with Jonathan Semira’s firing 17 points and MVP race leader Calvin Abueva’s adding 16 points and 15 boards.
San Beda hopes to nail down win No. 10 when it clashes with EAC side in the main game at 4 p.m.
The Generals and the Blazers, tied at seventh spot on 2-7 (win-loss) slates, are desperately in search for a win that would help shore up their sagging Final Four bids.
“We’re trying to win as many games as we can and boost our confidence,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. “Of course, it means nothing if we couldn’t win the title.”
A win is even crucial for San Sebastian as it is just half a game ahead of Jose Rizal, which downed a stubborn Perpetual Help side, 66-55, Wednesday to improve to 8-2.
“Our goal is to finish in the top two and we need to keep on winning to achieve it,” said San Sebastian mentor Ato Agustin.
Although a sweep, which would mean automatic slot into the best-of-three finale, is the Lions’ main goal, Lim is quick to brush off the idea saying the competition is beginning to build up in the tournament.
“A sweep is the last thing in our mind. We just need to focus on our games,” said Lim, who also manages Smart Gilas Pilipinas.