San Beda takes its time to regroup as it faces streaking Arellano Friday, Oct. 7, in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Tipoff is set at 12 noon for the curtainraiser between the Red Lions and the Chiefs while the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and second-seeded Lyceum Pirates clash in their 3 p.m. showdown.
The Lions, who are tied with the Bombers at No. 3 with a 4-2 slate, seek to bounce back from a tough loss last Oct. 2 against JRU despite the breakthrough performance of Gab Cometa alongside veterans JB Bahio and James Kwekuteye.
More consistency coming from the seasoned San Beda players and finishing strong in the end game are what head coach Yuri Escueta needed in order to close out matches efficiently.
The Chiefs, for their part, continue to bank on the efforts of their deadly trio in Axel Doromal, Shane Menina, and Cade Flores, who once copped the Player of the Week honor awarded by the Collegiate Press Corps.
Arellano also finds itself in a three-way tie with Perpetual and reigning champion Letran with 4-3 records.
In the second game, expect a fueled Agem Miranda, who played the spoiler's role against San Beda after dropping 21 points, to anchor a confident JRU side against Lyceum.
Aside from Miranda, the likes of John Amores, Marwin Dionisio, and Joshua Guiab are also expected to step up anew for the Bombers.
"It's gonna be a dogfight 'yon. Pareho kaming, expect them na both teams are gonna grind it out until the final buzzer," said JRU head coach Louie Gonzales. "We need to make sure that our body is ready against Lyceum."
As for the Pirates, sharpshooter Mclaude Guadana, who was recently named Player of the Week, will most likely use the momentum from their win against the Knights last Oct. 2.
John Barba, Patrick Montano, and Renzo Navarro are also out to provide for Lyceum after their solid performances on both ends of the floor against Letran.