Red Lions Eye Back-2-Back Title, Starts Finals Series Vs. Stags

Frankie Lim paused for about a fraction of a second when asked about what concerns him the most now that defending champion San Beda has reached the finals of the 87th NCAA basketball wars.

“Any concerns coach (heading into the finals)?”

Lim, a former Red Lion, appeared puzzled as he struggled to find an answer.

Unable to think of anything, since his players are on top of their game, Lim said he wishes that injury doesn’t afflict his squad in the best-of-three series with San Sebastian today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

“I just hope that my players remain healthy,” said Lim, knowing that an injury-free Red Lion crew has what it takes to go all the way to the top even opposite an equally-talented Stags team.

San Beda secured another trip to the finals – its sixth straight – by disposing of the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, while San Sebastian had to bounce back from a shock loss to eliminate the Letran Knights.

Lim said San Beda is still craving for a crown and that makes the team extremely dangerous, stressing that their mission at the onset was making the finals.

“Of course, we’re still hungry (for a title),” added Lim.

With a healthy lineup, Lim’s starting unit and even those coming off the bench is imposing.

Dave Marcelo (6-6) patrols the lane like a great white shark, while providing solid backup inside is Kyle Pascual (6-5) and come-backing Anthony Semerad (6-5) and adding a depth of court generalship are Garvo Lanete and Baser Amer. Over at the Stags backyard, coach Topex Robinson has the incomparable Calvin Abueva to turn to in times of trouble as the 6-2 do-it-all forward from Pampanga is virtually unstoppable “even if you put a double team on him,” noted Knights strategist Louie Alas.

Abueva is the Stags main man, while slot man Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual are the next two most important men in Robinson’s roster.

But outside of Abueva and the two, Robinson doesn’t have the luxury of just looking at his bench and summoning to the officials’ table the very first guy he sees.

Still, all the pre-tournament billing and expert analysis go down the drain for the simple reason that the stage is different and the atmosphere is never the same as during the runup to the championships.

Give San Beda the edge because of their bench depth and experience but never count out SSC, a team that has an explosive streak.

source:  MB.com.ph