Stags, Red Lions begin titular showdown today
Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
2 p.m. – San Beda Red Cubs vs. CSB-LSGH
4 p.m. – San Beda vs. San Sebastian
ANOTHER chapter in the heated rivalry between the defending champions San Beda Red Lions and the 2009 champions San Sebastian Stags will be forged today as Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament kicks off at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Red Lions, who will be gunning for their fourth title under coach Frankie Lim, reached the finals after disposing of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 83-74, in the Final Four, while the Stags needed to exhaust their twice-to-beat advantage, yielding the first, 62-70, before winning the second, 63-56, against the Letran Knights to advance to today’s finals.
Article continues after this advertisementSan Beda and San Sebastian trade baskets starting at 4 p.m., right after Game 1 of the juniors finals between the SBC Red Cubs and the College of St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills Greenies at 2 p.m.
The Red Lions will be coming in as slight favorites opposite the Stags. The Mendiola-based dribblers beat their C.M. Recto-based squad twice-in-a-row, 91-70, and 88-85 to secure the no. 1 spot./Correspondent Jonas Panerio