SHORT work or will it go the distance?
That will be known when defending two-time champion Letran and eliminations pacesetter College of St. Benilde take on Lyceum and San Beda University, respectively, today in the Final Four of the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage after winding up as No. 1 in the eliminations with a 14-4 mark, the Blazers battle the No. 4 Red Lions in the curtain-raiser at noon.
The second-ranked Knights, also armed with a win-once incentive after finishing the eliminations with a 13-5 card, square off with the third seed Pirates at 3 p.m.
Lyceum and San Beda both posted 12-6 slates in the eliminationss.
A deciding match or matches, if necessary, will be this Friday at the San Juan-based arena. Game 1 of the best-of-three finals is set on Sunday at a venue yet to be announced.
Despite his wards having a big edge, CSB coach Charles Tiu is not one to look past the dangerous Lions.
“San Beda is really a good team.” Tiu said. “I know they’re not used to losing and they lost the most games in a long, long time in a season; they’re a scary team.”
The likes of Will Gozum, Migs Oczon, Robi Nayve, Miggy Corteza, JC Cullar, and Jimboy Pasturan will be counted upon anew by the Taft-based cagers.
The Blazers will go into the match on a high, having scored an 82-73 triumph over San Beda in their last game seven days ago.
CSB also trounced the Lions 78-69 in their first-round duel last Oct. 9.
“For us, it’s a big boost to get some rest and recover because some of the guys are banged up but we’re hanging in there,” Tiu said. “We’re not healthy the whole season but the one-week break will be a big blessing for us for the guys to recover.”
San Beda will pin its hopes on James Kwekuteye, JB Bahio, Justine Sanchez, and Jacob Cortez.
Letran absorbed a 71-87 setback to Jose Rizal University last Wednesday.
The Pirates stunned the Knights 82-75 when they first met last Oct. 9, with key Letran players Brent Paraiso and Louie Sangalang sitting out the tiff due to suspensions.
