San Beda University will be needing to do some magic similar to what it did last year to win it all in NCAA Season 99.
The Red Lions are once again facing tall odds in the centennial season, staring at a twice-to-win disadvantage against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in their heavyweight Final Four showdown starting on Saturday.
However, this is a challenge the defending champions welcome as they look to complete back-to-back titles.
"Hindi madali yun, of course. Sana kung we could've gotten 'yung top two spots," San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta said.
"But again, [we are] still very, feel very blessed that we're in the final four. But it's going to be a challenge, so we have to prepare well and just focus on one game first."
To do it, Escueta said they have to forget the past and focus on the present.
The Red Lions are heading to the Final Four on a slump, losing their last three games to end the elimination round after bowing to Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Benilde, and San Sebastian College-Recoletos. Escueta, however, said the health of his players are more important.
In their final assignment against the Stags, San Beda was without Bismarck Lina and Nygel Gonzales while Jomel Puno saw limited minutes, all of whom were either bitten by injury bugs or resting.
Escueta shared they intentionally sidelined the 6-foot-5 Lina to give him the time to recover further from his previous injury while guard Gonzales is nursing a charley horse on his knee he sustained from practice. Puno, meanwhile, suffered a sprain early in the game.
A good thing for the Red Lions, though, is the one-week break before they plunged back into action against the Blazers, whom they haven't beaten yet this season.
"We have to prepare. We haven't beaten them in the eliminations. Two close games. Isa, three points for overtime. 'Yung last game, five minutes ang kami bumitaw," Escueta added.
"So, key nga is for us to be healthy coming to the eliminations. And get one game muna."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
