by Waylon Galvez
Games Today (The Arena, San Juan)
8 a.m. – JRU vs Perpetual Help (Jrs)
10 a.m. – Lyceum vs San Sebastian (Jrs)
12 n.n. – JRU vs Perpetual Help (Srs)
2 p.m. – Lyceum vs San Sebastian (Srs)
4 p.m. – Letran vs EAC (Srs)
6 p.m. – Letran vs EAC (Jrs)
San Sebastian College shoots for a share of early lead with three-time defending champion San Beda University when it battles Lyceum today in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Stags and Pirates clash at 2 p.m. with the former going for a third straight win that would tie them with the Red Lions at 3-0.
Interestingly, the Stags will be facing a team whose coach – Topex Robinson – once handled the Recto-based squad and considers himself a true-blue Sebastinian.
“Playing against San Sebastian will be always something special for me,” said Robinson. “I’m happy from where they are right now. I’m a proud Sebastinian and I will always be.”
The game is likewise important for Pirate Jayson Davis since he will be playing his former team.
The Stags will rely on their 1-2 punch of Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan, while the Pirates will once again lean on the Marcelino twins – Jaycee and Jayvee.
Clashing 12 noon are Jose Rizal University and University of Perpetual Help Dalta while Letran tries to extend its winning streak to four games when the Knights tackle the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at 4 p.m.
Letran is coming off a thrilling 82-80 overtime win against Perpetual Help last Friday.
SSC coach Egay Macaraya, meantime, is putting premium on the physical condition of his players this time, saying they can only sustain their good start if his players are all healthy.
“We have to stay healthy, that’s the main thing I think for our team after what happened in the previous year,” said Macaraya as SSC missed the Final Four the previous season due to injuries.
“I hope we stay together as a team, no injuries, no distractions. Because we’ve prepared hard for this season, the entire team sacrificed a lot. We just have to stay focused every game,” added Macaraya.
Lyceum, on the other hand, is fresh from a 79-71 triumph against Mapua.
