Lions eye share of lead; Knights, Pirates seek first win

Games Friday (July 4)

(The Arena, San Juan)

10 a.m. – Letran vs Lyceum (jrs/srs)

2 p.m. – San Beda vs Mapua (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Four-peat champion San Beda seeks to join surprise early leader San Sebastian on top as it clashes with Mapua even as Letran and Lyceum clash for their first victory Friday in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lions turned back the Jose Rizal Bombers, 57-49, in Saturday's opener at the MOA Arena in Pasay City that set in motion their bid for a fifth straight championship and eighth in the last nine seasons.

A victory over the Cardinals, who absorbed a humiliating 91-57 defeat at the hands of the Perpetual Help Altas Monday, in their 2 p.m. encounter would send the Lions alongside the Stags, who hurdled the first two assignments including the Bombers, 88-81, Wednesday, at the helm.

And although San Beda is heavily favored to win over Mapua, coach Boyet Fernandez warned his boys not to become too complacent.

"We can't judge a team by how they played in their last game or how they performed last season," said Fernandez, whose Lions won last year when the Cardinals finished 10th and dead last.

"We need to show all our opponents respect by playing hard," he added.

Expect the Lions to draw strength from Nigerian Ola Adeogun again after the 6-8 Lagos native bullied his way to 20 points and 14 rebounds that launched not just his team's bid to extend its dynastic reign.

It was also Adeogun who unloaded a 10-point in a critical third quarter run that helped seal the deal for San Beda.

"Ola is our source of strength especially in defense," said Fernandez.

Letran and Lyceum, for their part, aim to bounce back from their first game losses as the two tackle each other at 12 noon.

The Knights blew a 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter and lost to the Stags, 85-83, in the inaugurals while the Pirates couldn't sustain a strong start on their way to a 93-80 defeat at the hands of the Arellano U Chiefs Monday.