College of St. Benilde guns for the top seeding in the Final Four while Lyceum tries to catch the last semis bus when they clash on Friday, Nov. 15, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Game is at 12 noon with the Blazers, who tote an identical 14-3 win-loss record with the Mapua Cardinals, aiming to remain atop the leaderboard and keep that momentum going to the crucial next phase.

But that would be easier said than done as the Pirates seek to complete the Final Four cast to join the Blazers, the Cardinals and the defending champion San Beda Red Lions.

Though a loss would still assure Lyceum of a playoff for the semis berth provided that Emilio Aguinaldo College wins its 2:30 p.m. tussle with also-ran Jose Rizal University, the Pirates are not leaving it to chance.

Drawing strength from their three-game winning run that included a 74-65 victory over EAC, Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan continues to pin his eyes on John Barba to fuel the squad along with Renz Villegas, Jonathan Daileg and Mclaude Guadana.

The task may be an uphill climb, noting that the Pirates bowed to the Blazers in their first meeting last Sept. 27 by a wide margin, 103-78, but Malabanan believes his stalwarts have improved after that defeat.

St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu, meanwhile, openly admitted that gaining the top seeding would avert them from meeting San Beda in the semis

“They’re one of the best teams, they really have a deep line up, great coaching staff,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu of San Beda. “I told them if they want to play San Beda in the semis it's fine by me, but you guys decide how you want to play.”

“But ako, we want to compete every game, we want to improve every game,” he added.

Fresh from edging the Red Lions, 70-62, last Wednesday, Nov. 13, Tiu will continue to rely on Jhomel Ancheta, Allen Liwag, Justine Sanchez and Winston Ynot.