BY ABBY TORALBA
EXPECT fireworks when Lyceum and San Beda University square off today in a do-or-die duel for the last finals slot in the 99th NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Pirates and the Lions go at it one final time at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to the finals opposite Mapua University.
San Beda negated Lyceum’s twice-to-beat advantage with a runaway 89-68 dumping in the first game of their Final Four duel three days ago.
Lions coach Yuri Escueta expects his wards to show up with the same grit in the knockout tiff.
“Ni-remind ko lang sa kanila actually, isa iyan sa point of emphasis namin. Hindi sila hihinto maglaro. So, ni-remind ko lang iyong players na until the last buzzer, until pumito iyong referee, walang hihintong maglaro,” Escueta said. “Kita naman noong first half of Game 1, ang dami nilang offensive rebounds sa amin. Kasi once na mag-stop ka, sila hindi sila humihinto.
“So, talagang makikita mo iyong Lyceum is really a hard-working team so we have to match that energy saka iyong effort nila. So, ang sabi ko, walang hihinto hangga’t hindi natatapos iyong laro, hangga’t hindi pipito iyong referee,” he added.
The Mendiola-based five is looking to return to the Big Dance after losing to Letran in a series that went the distance in 2019.
The Pirates last reached the finals in 2018 behind a team led by now-PBA star CJ Perez but fell to the Lions.
The likes of Jacob Cortez, Yukien Andrada, and Nygel Gonzales are expected to show the way for San Beda.
Cortez will be the player to watch after unleashing a stellar and career-high 28-point performance laced with eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.
It was made more impressive that the son of former La Salle and PBA standout Mike Cortez did it in just 11 shots as he hit nine of them, including four from beyond the arc apart from his six free throws.
“Focus na kami next game, do or die game,” Cortez said.
Lyceum will lean on veteran Enoch Valdez, Mclaude Guadana and John Barba.
