SAN Beda College, seeking an unprecedented eighth straight crown, takes on dangerous Lyceum of the Philippines University at 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors’ basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Cubs, who crushed the Letran Squires, 107-74, on Monday to launch their campaign for an “eight-peat,” will keep their hold on the lead with a victory against the Junior Pirates.
Joshua Tagala starred for the Red Cubs in that fiery win as he shot 19 points, hauled six rebounds and grabbed a season-high seven steals. He got ample help from Evan Nelle, who had 17 points, eight assists and six steals.
But it won’t be a walk in the park for SBC against Lyceum.
Coach JB Sison expects a tough outing against the Intramuros squad, which finished tied for fourth last season before losing to St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills in a playoff for the fourth and last slot in the stepladder semis.
“We’re expecting a tough grind against them,” said Sison.
The Cubs share the early lead with the Junior Pirates, who routed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 85-66, and last year’s runner-up Malayan-Mapua, Arellano University and CSB-La Salle Greenills, which defeated Jose Rizal, 86-74, Perpetual Help, 105-88, and San Sebastian, 75-60, respectively.
In other games, CSB-La Salle Greehills battles Mapua-Malayan at 9 a.m., Jose Rizal fights Perpetual at 12:30 p.m., Arellano University meets San Sebastian College at 2:15 p.m. and Letran duels EAC at 4 p.m.