DEFENDING champion San Beda University shoots for an outright Finals berth in an anticipated showdown with Lyceum of the Philippines University on Thursday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The No. 1 Red Lions stake their unbeaten 17-0 won-lost card against the No. 2 Pirates (13-4) at 4 p.m.
No. 3 Letran (11-6) and cellar-dweller Emilio Aguinaldo College (4-13) collide at 2 p.m.
There’s a lot at stake in the clash of the two titans—San Beda needs a win to gain an outright Finals berth and a trice-to-beat advantage and the Pirates need to get a twice-to-beat incentive and avoid a step-ladder slugfest with other Final Four contenders.
San Beda was on a bad hair day early in its previous match with College of Saint Benilde when the Red Lions trailed, 41-42 at the half.
But Most Valuable Player contender Calvin Oftana rescued San Beda and erupted with a career and game-high 29 points with nine rebounds and five assists to bring his team back to solid form.
The Pirates, meanwhile, try to bounce back from their loss to the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, 71-73.
The Knights, on the other hand, duel the Generals trying to cement their hold of third spot.
Both teams won their last games. The Knights are on a rampaging two-win streak, beating Arellano University Chiefs, 97-84, and Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 77-64.
The upset-conscious Generals also dismantled the Chiefs, 77-50, in their previous game.