Top seed De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and two-time defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran will take on San Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines University when the NCAA Season 98 Final Four opens curtains on Tuesday.
Both carrying a twice-to-beat bonus, Benilde will first square off with San Beda at 12 p.m. before defending champion Letran clashes with Lyceum at 3 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Blazers are in high spirits as they carry a four-game win streak, capped by an 82-73 comeback victory against the same Red Lions last November 22 that completed their season sweep of the Mendiola crew.
While all eyes were on MVP frontrunner Will Gozum, helping Benilde's cause in the twice-to-beat-clinching win were Mark Sangco and Miggy Corteza.
But head coach Charles Tiu is expecting a dogfight in the semifinals, especially with San Beda eager to get back at them.
"Right now we're just happy and thankful that at least, we have the twice-to-beat advantage. It's gonna be big because it doesn't matter that we've beaten these teams in elimination, 0-0 'yan sa semis," Tiu said.
"And iba 'yung pressure so I don't know how the guys will respond. But we worked hard to be in this position so it's a good feeling."
Meanwhile, three-peat seeking Letran will look to return to the championship round against a gritty Lyceum side, who defeated the Knights in the first round before the Muralla crew get back at them in their second round meeting.
Letran previously fell to Jose Rizal University to close out its elimination round campaign in second place, but the Knights are tipped to vent their ire on the Pirates in bid to enter the finals.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
