Red Lions, Stags begin NCAA finals showdown

For Frankie Lim and the San Beda Red Lions, there’s no better way to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship. They’re just two wins away from reclaiming the title and posting a perfect season in the 86th edition of the country’s oldest collegiate tournament. But to achieve such a feat, the Red Lions will have to be more patient and take things one game at a time. "I would be a hypocrite if I say that we're not thinking of a sweep," said Lim during Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey's UN Avenue. Seeking their 15th championship, the Red Lions are coming off a two-week rest, but they spent extra time preparing for the championship round and set their sights on the return bout with the Stags, who beat them in last year’s finals. The Mendiola-based squad is carrying a thrice-to-beat advantage over the Recto boys, and signs of completing a perfect season with 18 straight wins look very encouraging for Lim and his troop. "We went 16-0 by taking it one game at a time," said Lim. "We'll do the same thing, but we can't afford to relax because San Sebastian is a tough and physical team rich with championship experience." Unlike the Red Lions, the defending champion Stags, who are gunning for their 13th title, had to get to the finals the hard way. Coach Ato Agustin and his wards defeated the Jose Rizal University Bombers, 71-62, on Friday in the stepladder phase to secure the last finals berth. For Agustin, this will be his last hurrah in the collegiate scene. He will try to leave the Stags and the NCAA with a bang by pulling off the gargantuan task of leading his team to a back-to-back title against the favored Red Lions, before he assumes the head coaching chores with the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA. “It’s going to be really difficult playing San Beda because they’re not only big, they also have the deeper bench," said Agustin. “The only way we can win this series is to play with a lot of heart and maybe get something out of our experience in last year’s championship. The biggest thorn for the Stags’ side will be American slotman Sudan Daniel, the Bedans' source of power inside. Aside from Daniel, the Red Lions will also lean on pro-bound Borgie Hermida, Garvo Lanete, brothers Anthony and David Semerad, and Dave Marcelo. Do-it-all forward Calvin Abueva is expected to carry the fight for the Stags, who are also pinning their hopes on guard Pamboy Raymundo, Gilbert Bulawan, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual Daniel, Amer likely to be named MVPs Two San Beda stalwarts are expected to cop the season’s highest individual awards – the Most Valuable Player plums. Red Lions slotman Daniel and Red Cub Baser Amer are highly favored to be named the MVPs of the senior and junior divisions of this tournament. Daniel is disputing the award with his closest pursuer, Pampanga-born forward Calvin Abueva of San Sebastian. Amer is expected to be named the runaway winner for the juniors plum. - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV