San Beda University and Perpetual Help brace for their much-awaited Final Four showdown as the two collide today in the final playdate of the elimination round of the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Lions and the Altas, currently with a 16-1 and 11-6 (win-loss) records, respectively, were already booked for a Final Four duel as the former will end up the top seed and the latter the No. 4 seed regardless of the result of their 2 p.m. showdown.
They will start their Final Four series on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre and will continue, if necessary, on Monday.
The reigning back-to-back champion, which will go to the Final Four armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, barely won their first meeting, 67-65, in the season opener on July 7 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
And San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez knows they’re in for another grueling match.
“They have a multi-titled coach and a good set of players that can beat anyone. We just have to be ready for them,” said Fernandez referring to Perpetual Help mentor Frankie Lim.
The Altas have been the biggest surprise this year as they made the Final Four even though they were not given a chance by experts to make it that far.
Thanks to Lim, who coached San Beda to four NCAA championships last decade, and an overachieving crew, headed by leading MVP candidate Prince Eze, the Las Pinas-based school defied the odds and made it to where none expected them to be.
In a no-bearing match, San Sebastian (5-12) and Arellano University (5-12) face off at 12 noon.