Lyceum of the Philippines University tries to inch closer to sweeping its way straight to the finals as it faces off with Emilio Aguinaldo College today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Pirates booked their 11th win in row at the expense of a game Jose Rizal Bombers, 82-76, Friday and will try to push the right buttons to extend it to a 12th victory in their 2 pm encounter, which will send them six away from duplicating their feat last season when they swept all 18 elimination round games to advance to the finals.
LPU coach Topex Robinson isn’t looking that far ahead yet.
“We’ll just try to focus on what we need to do each game and try to improve in whatever we do,” said Robinson. “If it comes, it comes.”
Robinson is more concerned about his team’s consistency, which was tested in a close 82-76 win over the upset-conscious Jose Rizal University Bombers Friday.
It was a game where LPU trailed, 63-68, early in the fourth quarter before rediscovering its rhythm in time to turn things around in its favor.
EAC (2-8) also gave LPU a scare before the latter dominated the fourth canto to hack out a 106-97 win in the first round on July 13.
“Every game is a learning experience. It’s part of the process for us to reach our goal, which is position ourselves to winning a championship,” said Robinson.
CJ Perez will again be the focal point of LPU’s attack as the reigning league MVP has averaged 21.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.6 steals a game, putting him on course to snaring his second straight MVP plum.
Meanwhile, Jose Rizal (2-9) and Mapua (2-8) try to breathe some life into their dying Final Four hopes as they collide at 4 pm.