With a Final Four slot already in the bag, Lyceum of the Philippines University sets its sights on closing in on a twice-to-beat incentive as it tackles Mapua today in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Pirates along with the San Beda Lions, who are at joint first on identical 13-1 (win-loss) records, were given a free pass straight to the Final Four after the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals pulled the rug from under the St. Benilde Blazers, 69-67, Friday.
They can now look forward to snaring that precious semifinal incentive.
In fact, a victory in their 4 p.m. encounter with the Cardinals, who are already out of it all with a 4-10 mark, would book the Pirates at least a playoff for that edge given to the top two teams after the eliminations.
“The goal remains the same, which is to win a championship. But we know it will take a step-by-step approach for us starting with this (Mapua) game,” said LPU coach Topex Robinson.
LPU has vented its ire on AU, 113-79, Tuesday, or a game after it was denied a potential elims sweep following a heartbreaking 81-83 defeat to Perpetual Help.
In that one-sided win over AU, LPU has rearranged a lot of season statistical records like most points scored (113), most three-pointers made (14), most assists (27), most fast break points (34) and most bench points (81).
AU (4-9), meanwhile, seek resuscitate some life to its dying Final Four hope as it clashes with an already-ran EAC (3-11) at 2 p.m.