Stags Meet Generals; Lions Battle Cards

Defending champion San Sebastian and San Beda passed their first two games with flying colors.

But for coaches Ato Agustin of San Sebastian and Frankie Lim of San Beda, their best have yet to come.

“I hope we’ve learned our lessons from our first two games. We nearly lost in our first two games. All teams have improved and prepared well against us," said Agustin, a former Most Valuable Player in the Philippine Basketball Association.


“We’ve seen what other teams are capable of doing, so we have to keep the focus and play with fire in our eyes," said Lim.

Agustin and Lim gather up their respective teams again Wednesday and resume their winning ways in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Stags battle lowly Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the main game at 4 p.m. right after the game between the Lions and the Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m.

Both teams are coming off contrasting victories last Friday.

San Sebastian had to dig deeper to escape past Perpetual Help, 73-69, while San Beda had an easy time blasting EAC, 97-55, in the most lopsided game so far this season.

For Agustin, his team’s previous performance was a far cry from the squad that won the championship last season.

"If we remain inconsistent, maybe we won't even make the Final Four," said Agustin, one of the members of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players.

Once a potent offensive squad with Jimbo Aquino in tow, the Stags have unleashed their new identity with the departure of the team’s top gun by becoming a solid defensive unit.

On offense, the Stags became more unpredictable and were able to rely on the collective effort of Ronald Pascual, Calvin Abueva and Pamboy Raymundo.

Lim, on the other hand, was disappointed with the way his team performed in the first quarter when the Generals even took a slim lead before the Lions went full throttle to score a decisive win.

Against the Cardinals, the Lions expect tougher opposition.

Mapua, considered as one of the favorites to enter the Final Four, got big contributions from veterans Macky Acosta, TG Guillermo, Allan Mangahas and Jason Pascual in beating the Altas last time out.

Rey Joble, GMA News