Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — San Beda guns for a share of the lead with Letran as it tackles an already-ran Lyceum of the Philippines University Thursday (September 17) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lions (10-3) are also itching to bounce back from a heartbreaking 88-86 defeat to the Perpetual Help Altas last week in a loss that spoiled the former’s bid to catch up with the Knights (11-3) at first place.
But San Beda could accomplish what it failed to do the last time out if it could hurdle Lyceum, a team already out of the Final Four running with a 3-11 record, in their 4 p.m. encounter.
“We have another chance to do what we couldn’t do the last game and hopefully we could execute this time,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.
San Beda is expected to rely anew on its seasoned troika of Ola Adeogun, Arthur dela Cruz, and Baser Amer.
The 6-8 Adeogun had 26 points and eight rebounds the last game but he was limited by foul trouble and played just 22 minutes.
For the Lions to be more lethal, they would need a more aggressive but more controlled Adeogun, who has been the source of inside strength for the team but couldn’t do it on a daily basis due to inconsistency.
Against the Pirates, Adeogun will be faced with a fearsome frontcourt of Cameroonian Jean Victor Nguidjol and Joseph Gabayni.
The 6-7 Nguidjol has been averaging in double-double as of late including a 12-point, 12-rebound effort in a heartbreaking 66-70 defeat to Mapua Friday while Gabayni went on attack mode by unleashing 21 points on his first game since returning from a school-imposed three-game suspension.
And Jarin knows Lyceum will be a formidable foe.
“It’s always hard to play a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Also, Lyceum has been a solid team since the start of the season, it’s just that breaks didn’t go their way much,” said Jarin, whose team beat Lyceum, 97-74, in their first round meeting on July 21.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian (3-10) and Emilio Aguinaldo (2-11) clash in a non-bearing contest at 2 p.m.
