Lions, Knights dispute top seeding

MANILA, Philippines - Arch rivals San Beda and Letran clash for playoffs top seeding while Mapua and Arellano slug it out for the fourth and last Final Four berth today in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Knights smashed the Perpetual Help Altas, 93-64, Friday to forge a tie at first spot with the Lions on 13-5 (win-loss) slates. The bitter rivals break the tie in pivotal match at 4 p.m.

The Cardinals and the Chiefs face off earlier at 2 p.m., knocking each other out for the last slot in the semifinals.

The winner in the Mapua-Arellano showdown plays Jose Rizal on Thursday in a fight for No. 3 seeding in the playoffs.

Jose Rizal, Mapua and Arellano U finished in a three-way logjam at third to fifth spots with the Bombers automatically clinching spot in the Top Four with a superior quotient.

San Beda seeks a 10th straight top seeding in their duel with Letran. The Knights won their first-round tiff, 93-80, then the Lions struck back, 77-73, in the second round.

Interestingly, San Beda has never lost in previous three playoff games for the top spot, beating Arellano, 97-69, last season, San Sebastian, 88-85, four years ago, and San Sebastian again, 71-65, six seasons back.

“There is a tradition in San Beda so I guess we might as well try our best to keep it,” said San Beda mentor Jamike Jarin.

To beat Letran, San Beda should minimize turnovers and engage Letran in a relentless running game.

“We need to take care of the ball and we should be on attack mode,” said Jarin.

The Knights, in contrast, are out to finish at No. 1 for the first time in 10 years or since going all the way to win the championship versus Philippine Christian U.

“We will fight them, kahit tumbang preso o patintero pa yan,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo of their much-awaited face-off with the reigning five-peat champions.

The Cardinals will be eyeing a return to the Final Four since making it that far five years ago.

“This is my best year since I became a coach,” said Mapua coach Atoy Co, who took over the coaching reins three years ago. “So we might as well make the most out of it.”

In juniors’ action, Lyceum of the Philippines and La Salle-Greenhills clash at 12 noon for the last ticket to the Final Four.