Greenies, Cubs start race-to-2 showdown for NCAA jr crown

MANILA, Philippines - College of St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills hopes the momentum has swung to its side as the Greenies and holders San Beda Red Cubs tangle today in the 87th NCAA juniors basketball finals at the Arena – both needing two wins to cop the title.

A first-time finalist, the Greenies stunned San Beda in the opener of the championship stage, 88-85, handing the Red Cubs their maiden setback after an 18-game sweep of the elims.

San Beda owns a thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals and CSB-LSGH’s triumph effectively reduced the titular showdown to a race-to-two affair.

“We’re happy with the victory but we still have to win two more games,” Greenies coach John Flores said after staining SBC’s erstwhile unblemished mark.

“For us, the most important is to win the first game because somehow, the complexion of the game will change. We hope that it already did,” he added.

CSB-LSGH will anchor its bid on Thomas Torres, who dropped 35 points against No. 2  Letran in the semifinals, and Jon Villaruz , who topscored with 22 against SBC. 

Andre Paras, son of PBA rookie-MVP Benjie Paras, is also expected to be a power inside, as he did a week ago with 13 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, and four clutch rebounds.

“That’s how he (Paras) worked his way to more playing time, the way he gets those rebounds,” said Flores, looking to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA juniors finals history.

The Red Cubs will lean on Arvin Tolentino, Van Abatayo and Francis Abarcar, in trying to repeat as champs and duplicate the feats of the Red Lions over in the seniors’ division.