Red Lions Target No. 1 Spot; Red Cubs Eye Elims Sweep

In what could be a preview of yet another possible championship clash , San Sebastian College and defending champion San Beda College collide today with the top spot at stake in the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Stags, toting a 15-1 card, need only to win today to secure the no. 1 spot, while the Red Lions (15-2) need to win by at least three points or more to snatch the top spot.

The Stags beat the Red Lions by two, 70-68, in the first round.

The owner of the top spot arranges a meeting with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, who grabbed the no. 4 position after compiling a 9-9 mark, while the no. 2 squad will take on the Letran Knights, the no. 3 squad with a 14-4 card after the eliminations.

Both teams are coming off impressive victories going into today’s crucial clash.

The Stags, whose win streak was halted by an 81-82 overtime loss to the Knights a week ago, bounced back with an 80-68 dumping of the Lyceum Pirates to secure one of two twice-to-beat incentives.

The Red Lions then disposed of the Knights, 84-68 last Friday, to pick up the second twice-to-beat bonus, leading to today’s crucial match.

In their second and final meeting at 4 p.m. today, the Stags will parade the same deadly unit led by Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and the lanky Ian Sangalang, against an equally talented Red Lions squad backstopped by Garvo Lanete, Kyle and Jake Pascual, Rome dela Rosa and spitfire Baser Amer.

The Red Lions, though, will have extra helping hands from twins Anthony and David Semerad, who combined for 24 points against the Knights.

In the lone juniors’ game, the Red Cubs eye their 18th straight win that will give them the first finals berth when they play the Staglets (8-9), who fell out of the race for the Final. Four.

source: Manila Standard