San Beda on Doorstep of History

With an eye to the finals, San Beda College tries to complete a historic 16-game sweep of the elimination round when it tangles with second ranked San Sebastian College this Wednesday in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament.

Game time is 4 p.m. with the Red Lions seeking its first ever sweep since co-founding the country’s oldest collegiate league in 1924.

A victory today will give the Red Lions an outright finals berth, but more significantly, under NCAA rules, a sweep by a school will give it an automatic 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five finals.

“There will be no fooling around (in this game). All teams here in the NCAA and in the UAAP are dreaming of a sweep. Now that it’s already in our hands, we will grab it,” San Beda coach Frankie Lim told reporters after the Lions demolished the Letran Knights, 74-56, on Friday for their 15th straight victory.

“My challenge to my boys right now is: ‘Are you already satisfied with the twice-to-beat incentive in the semis?’” said Lim, who will rely on American import Sudan Daniel, Borgie Hermda, Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual.

Considering their first encounter this season, the Lions are tipped to prevail over the defending champion Stags.

Toppled by the Stags in the finals last season, San Beda crushed San Sebastian, 88-76, last Aug. 18.

The Lions and the Stags are the two teams that clinched the twice-to-beat bonuses in the semifinals, but the Stags could lose it in the event the Lions sweep the elims.

If that happens, the stepladder format will be applied, with the third- and fourth-ranked squad playing in a knockout match, and the winner facing the No. 2 team for the second Finals berth.

Jose Rizal University and Mapua, the third and fourth-ranked teams in the semis, meanwhile, collide in the opener at 2 p.m.