Games today, Tuesday at the MOA Arena
1 p.m.- San Beda vs Arellano (juniors)
3:45 p.m.- San Beda vs Perpetual Help (seniors)
MANILA, Philippines – University of Perpetual Help looks to ride on the crest of its upset win over San Beda College as the two squads collide one last time for the second Finals berth in the NCAA Season 92 men's basketball tournament.
The winner sets up a best-of-three Finals showdown against Arellano University, which advanced to the championship series on Friday after a 92-80 win over third-seeded Mapua Institute of Technology in the other semifinals match.
Last Friday's victory ended Perpetual Help's string of Final Four losses to San Beda. The Red Lions defeated the Altas in the semifinals from 2012 to 2014, before Perpetual Help missed out on the Final Four in 2015.
It was also San Beda's first loss in the Final Four since a 51-53 setback to the Mapua Cardinals eight seasons ago. The Red Lions would go on to win the do-or-die game to advance to the Finals.
A victory on Tuesday will make Perpetual Help the first fourth-seed to ever overcome a twice-to-beat disadvantage and stun a No. 1 seeded team since the Final Four format was implemented in the NCAA in 1998.
San Beda finished as the No. 1 team at the end of the elimination round for the 11th consecutive season.
"We've come this far, so we'll definitely go for it," Perpetual Help coach Jimwell Gican said.
San Beda, however, has no intention of fading quietly. The Red Lions have made the finals every season in the past decade and will go all out in a bid to continue that tradition.
"Expect us to come back stronger and better," said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.
In juniors' action, San Beda and Arellano collide one last time as they tangle at 1 p.m., with the victor advancing to the finals where they will meet Mapua in a best-of-three series.
The Braves stunned the Red Cubs, 89-84, to arrange the sudden-death match.
A victory by Arellano will seal its second finals appearance in the last three years, while denying San Beda – the reigning seven-peat champion – an eighth straight appearance.
The Red Robins booked the first finals seat by beating La Salle Greenhills, 88-81.
0 comments :
Post a Comment