DEFENDING champion San Sebastian and former three-time titlist San Beda seek a share of the early lead when they tackle separate opponents today in the NCAA seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Stags face University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at 2 p.m., while the Red Lions meet Emilio Aguinaldo College at 4 p.m. in a pair of senior division matches in the young season.
San Sebastian and San Beda, which met in last year’s finals, started their bids on a bright note by beating Letran and Jose Rizal University, respectively.
The Stags shrugged off a lackluster first half to slip past the Knights, 59-53, while the Red Lions whipped the Heavy Bombers, 68-52, in the opening day last Saturday.
Ronald Pascual is the man to watch out for San Sebastian. Against Letran, the 6-foot-3 forward amazed everyone.
Proving his worth as a worthy replacement for hotshot Jimbo Aquino, Pascual scattered 13 of his game-high 15 points in the third period, where the Stags erased a one-point halftime deficit.
San Sebastian mentor Ato Agustin knows that his wards will be hard-pressed to do an encore of their impressive 15-game winning streak to start the season last year.
“Hindi namin iniisip na ma-sweep (ang buong eliminations) dahil every team sa liga gusto kaming talunin. We want to take things one game at a time and our initial goal is to make it sa Final Four,” said Agustin.
“It’s still a long way to go. Hindi rin namin iniisip muna ang San Beda, we just want to improve every game,” he added.
Red Lions coach Frankie Lim, on the other hand, was visibly satisfied with the performance of his boys in their season opener.
American center Sudan Daniel, Garvo Lanete, Rome dela Rosa and Borgie Hermida will be the forefront again of San Beda’s offense.
The Altas and the Generalsl try to bounce back from their respective setbacks.
Perpetual Help bowed to Mapua, 65-79, while EAC lost to fellow probationary member Arellano University, 72-82, last Sunday.
Theodore Jurado, Journal Online
Subject: Stags, Lions Seek 2nd Win 
Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:46 am
