Stags eye crucial win vs Lions

Games today:

The Arena

6 p.m. – San Sebastian vs. San Beda

THE SAN SEBASTIAN Stags aim to lock down the second seed and seize the twice-to-beat bonus that comes with it but will have a huge roadblock in front of them when they take on their bitter rivals, the reigning champions San Beda Red Lions, in the final day of the elimination round of the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament today at the Arena in San Juan City.

While San Beda has already snatched the top seed and the other twice-to-beat advantage with their league-leading 15-2 (win-loss) record, San Sebastian still has a ways to go as they try to get a win to avoid having to take on the red-hot Letran Knights in a playoff for the second seed, especially when the latter has beaten them in both match-ups this season.

The Stags, though, got the upper hand on the Red Lions in their first round encounter, 80-71, with perimeter ace Ronald Pascual lighting up the scoreboard with 28 points spiked by six three-pointers while reigning league MVP Calvin “The Beast” Abueva had 21 points and 21 rebounds.

The last third of the famed “Pinatubo Trio,” Ian Sangalang, also hopes to bolster his MVP bid this season with another stellar showing.

The Red Lions will be a tough nut to crack with the presence of seasoned veterans Baser Amer, Anjo Caram, Jake Pascual, Rome dela Rosa and Ola Adeogun. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio