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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Mapua, St. Benilde try to forge NCAA finals showdown

Mapua, St. Benilde try to forge NCAA finals showdown

Published Nov 22, 2024 04:23 am

At A Glance

  • Mapua and College of St. Benilde try to arrange a championship showdown when they clash with separate rivals on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Final Four hostilities of the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Mapua and College of St. Benilde try to arrange a championship showdown when they clash with separate rivals on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Final Four hostilities of the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Mapua's Clint Escamis vs Perpetual's JP Boral.jpg
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis, left, is expected to lift Mapua to a second straight finals appearance. (NCAA Images)

The top-seeded Cardinals collide with the dangerous, fourth-ranked Lyceum Pirates at 11 a.m., while the No. 2 Blazers square off with the defending champion San Beda Red Lions at 2:30 p.m. in a pair of anticipated nail-biting matches.

Despite enjoying twice-to-beat semifinal advantages, Mapua and St. Benilde are not wasting time to gain those crucial tickets that would inch them closer to ending their respective title drought.

The Cardinals, who last won the crown in 1991, came close to winning it last year, only to lose to the Red Lions in the deciding Game 3, while the Blazers’ first and only title came in 2000 when the squad swept the San Sebastian Stags.

Mapua hopes to ride on the crest of sweeping all its second-round assignments including a close 69-68 victory over Lyceum last Oct. 29, boasting of a lethal frontline composed of reigning Most Valuable player Clint Escamis, Chris Hubilla and Marc Cuenco.

Buth Lyceum is coming off a morale-boosting win over St. Benilde, allowing them not only to extend their winning streak to four games but also catch the last semis bus.

“Sanay naman kami na naghahabol pero siyempre mas kailangan pa naming i-polish yung laro namin kasi Final Four na ito,” said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.

In the other pairing, St. Benilde wants to continue reaffirming its mastery over San Beda after beating them in their two elims meetings -- a 70-65 overtime victory in the first round and a 70-62 win in the second.

Anchored by Allen Liwag, Blazers coach Charles Tiu is also looking at Jomel Ancheta and Justine Sanchez to power the squad against a rival brimming with championship experience.

San Beda wasn’t new to being touted as underdogs on paper. Last season, they had to beat Lyceum twice, then survived Mapua in the deciding Game 3 finals to clinch the crown.

Expected to match St. Benilde’s frontline are Yukien Andrada, Bismarck Lina and Bryan Sajonia.

Related Tags

San Beda Red Lions Mapua Cardinals College of St. Benilde Blazers Lyceum Pirates NCAA Philippines
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