Lyceum and Emilio Aguinaldo College battle for at least a playoff for the remaining Final Four berth on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Sporting identical 8-8 marks, the winner in their 11 a.m. would boost their chance of joining College of St. Benilde, Mapua and San Beda in the next phase.

A victory for either the Pirates and the Generals would also give them some separation from the fifth-running Letran Knights (8-9), the other team chasing the last semifinal bus.

Lyceum is riding the crest of back-to-back victories against eliminated teams San Sebastian (93-85) and Jose Rizal University (82-80), while EAC is coming off a 69-59 triumph over also-ran Arellano.

But the Generals are looking for a repeat performance of their 90-88 escape from the Pirates in their first meeting last Sept. 29, where King Gurtiza delivered clutch baskets.

Gurtiza is expected to step up anew after posting 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists in their last game against Arellano, and is set to get enough support from Harvey Pagsanjan and Gelo Loristo.

Pagsanjan shone in that last game with 17 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals, even as Loristo saw action in 23 minutes and pumped in a double-double performance of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Lyceum, however, boasts of a strong frontline anchored on Renz Villegas and John Barba, and is looking at the possibility of having JM Bravo return to the court after a scary headbutt incident a few weeks ago.

“Nae-excite nga ako kasi first time namin na makumpleto this season. Meron na siyang (Bravo) clearance from his doctor na fit to play na siya,” said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.

Meanwhile, Perpetual seeks to end the season on a bright note when it tangles with JRU at 2:30 p.m.