San Sebastian, San Beda tries to extend winning roll over CSB, EAC

San Beda seeks to keep its unblemished slate as it takes on Emilio Aguinaldo even as reigning titlist San Sebastian tries to stay closer with a win over St. Benilde today in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
Spearheaded by MVP contender Sudan Daniel's 14 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, the Lions overpowered the St. Benilde Blazers, 89-70, to extend its amazing run to nine wins.

The Stags, for their part, bounced back from a painful 76-88 defeat at the hands of the Lions last Aug. 18 with an 81-63 bashing of the Generals Monday thanks to Jonathan Semira's 17 points and MVP race leader Calvin Abueva's 16 points and 15 boards.

San Beda hopes to nail win No. 15 when it clashes with a Nomar Isla-mentored EAC side in the main game at 4 p.m. while San Sebastian guns for its ninth win in 10 starts against St. Benilde at 2 p.m.
The Generals and the Blazers, tied at seventh spot on 2-7 (win-loss) slates, are desperately in search for a win that would breathe new life to their flickering Final Four hopes.

But EAC and CSB would be up against San Beda and San Sebastian squads trying to outrace each other for the title.
"We're trying to win as many games as we can and build our confidence," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. "Of course, it mean nothing if we couldn't win the title."

A win though is more important for San Sebastian as it is just half a game ahead of Jose Rizal, which downed a stubborn Perpetual Help side, 66-55, Wednesday to improve to 8-2.

"Our goal is to finish in the top two and we need to keep on winning to achieve it," said San Sebastian mentor Ato Agustin.

Although a sweep, which would mean automatic slot into the best-of-three finale, is far-fetched for the Lions, Lim was quick to brush off the idea saying the tournament is just starting.

"A sweep is the last thing in our minds, its too early and foolish for us to say that. We just need to focus on our games ahead," said Lim, who also manages Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

NCAA.org