Higher stakes are on the line when four teams return to battle on Wednesday in NCAA Season 100.
Defending champion San Beda University tangles with equally-hungry Emilio Aguinaldo College at 11 a.m. with both squads looking to solidify their spots in the tight Final Four race, while semis-bound Mapua University takes on University of Perpetual Help System DALTA at 2:30 p.m. in bolster its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus.
The Red Lions are trying to preserve their hold of the third spot with a 9-5 card while the Generals are hoping to maintain their seat at the fourth spot with an even 7-7 slate.
And the two teams lock horns with nothing in mind but a victory.
San Beda is coming off an 83-70 win over Jose Rizal University a week ago where reigning Finals MVP James Payosing finally broke a personal slump by dropping a season-high 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
With the veteran guard finally slowly getting his old form back and San Beda welcoming back Bryan Sajonia (injury) and Bismarck Lina (suspension), the Red Lions are expected to go full throttle in their final push to return to the Final Four.
“Of course we want to be able to win one game at a time and just stick at that number three and number two spot. We have to take care of our business and do our job doon sa mga next games namin,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
The Generals, meanwhile, are out to continue their second round turnaround in their pursuit to make the Final Four for the first time ever.
EAC is high in morale following a huge 68-58 triumph over the struggling Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Wednesday—a victory that sent them to solo fourth and kicked the Knights to fifth.
EAC head coach Jerson Cabiltes is expecting no less than a dogfight against the Red Lions.
“We have our last four games. Nothing will be given to us. We need to earn the spot for the Final Four,” the second-year tactician said.
In the second game, Mapua is now focusing on booking one of the two playoff incentives after formalizing their second straight Final Four appearance.
The Cardinals are spotless in the second round so far, winning their last five games with a number of heroes running the show for coach Randy Alcantara.
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis has been steady as always, but it was the crucial contributions from rookies Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat that are making Mapua dangerous at this point.
Hoping to give the Cardinals a challenge are the ALTAs.
Perpetual is hoping to finish what it failed to do against league-leading De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in their previous battle, where the ALTAs fell short of the comeback as the Blazers cruised to a narrow 61-56 escape.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
