Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) – Four teams will vie for the last two semifinals berths in the inaugural NCAA Season 97 play-in tournament beginning Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The play-in tournament, which is patterned from that of the National Basketball Association’s pre-playoff matches, will see the third and fourth seeds battling for the right to face the second seed. The fifth and sixth seeds, traditionally eliminated outright prior to playoffs, will also face off for the opportunity to still reach the semifinals.
The loser of third seed vs. fourth seed match will play the victor between the fifth seed and sixth seed in a knockout match for the last semifinals ticket. The winner goes on to face the top seed come the Final Four.
3 vs. 4: San Beda University vs. College of St. Benilde
The San Beda University Red Lions ended up third seed — the first time the Mendiola-based cagers failed to clinch a twice-to-beat semis incentive after 16 years — after dropping two of their last three eliminations games against eventual top teams Letran and Mapua.
But San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez believes the young Red Lions can still contend for the top prize as he related their current situation to his Season 93 team in 2017, where they beat San Sebastian in the stepladder semifinals and swept the erstwhile flawless Lyceum in the finals.
“This season, we know every game is a knockout game for us so I do believe our team is very well motivated to play our very best every game,” Fernandez said.
San Beda’s last eliminations game win was against College of St. Benilde Blazers, which almost beat them. Both teams will cross paths again on Sunday for the third semifinals seed.
“CSB is a strong team so we need to double our effort and play as a team in defense and offense, if we want to win tomorrow,” stressed Fernandez whose team blew a 14-point lead in the final period before escaping with a three-point win against the Blazers.
RELATED: San Beda fends off CSB’s fourth quarter rally
For CSB head coach Charles Tiu, the pressure is not on their side as their excitement to face San Beda again fuels their desire to clinch the coveted semifinals berth.
Tiu added that for them to beat the Red Lions, the fourth seed Blazers must step up in taking care of the ball and grabbing more rebounds.
“It’s always tough to play them because they are so deep and coach Boyet uses a lot of players. They will always be the standard of the NCAA and hopefully, we can pull of the upset and make history,” said Tiu.
5 vs. 6: Perpetual Help vs. Arellano University
With the introduction of the play-in tournament, the next two seeds outside of the top four can still get a shot at a semifinals seat.
This is what fifth seed Perpetual Help Altas are thankful for, with the squad relishing the opportunity to exceed their modest goal before the start of the season.
“Nakita ko sa kanila kung paano nila tinrabaho, paano ang gusto nilang mangyari. Nagpapasalamat kami na umabot kami sa stage na ganito. I owe it to all my players na talagang nagtrabaho sila para mapuntahan ang play-in na to,” Altas rookie head coach Myk Saguiguit said.
[Translation: I saw how they worked hard and how they wanted to achieve what we did. I owe it all to my players who exerted extra effort for us to qualify in the play-in.]
Fresh from his team’s morale-boosting win against Emilio Aguinaldo College last Friday that gave them the last play-in spot, Saguiguit said the one-day layoff is an advantage as their players are raring to stop versatile big man Justin Arana and the Arellano University Chiefs.
“We focused in polishing our defense. If we can’t make good defensive stops, it will be hard for us. The dominance of Justin Arana is one of a kind,” related Saguiguit.
Arana, the leading candidate for the Season 97 Most Valuable Player award, said they are not taking their chances lightly against the fast-paced offense exhibited by Perpetual’s backcourt.
“Perpetual is a well-conditioned team, so we should not be relaxed against them. We need to tighten our defense in containing the Altas guards and we hope to execute our new plays tomorrow,” said Arana, who told CNN Philippines of his intent to enter the PBA Draft next month.
RELATED: Justin Arana to declare for PBA Draft
The 6-foot-5 behemoth from Camarines Norte said he wants to achieve their team’s goal of reaching the Final Four as he is set to wrap up his collegiate career this season.
“We need to clinch the Final Four berth and the championship, if possible, so that the Arellano community will be proud of us in my final year,” Arana said.
The San Beda-CSB tiff will open the play-in hostilities on Sunday noon, while the Arellano-Perpetual Help battle will take place at 3 p.m.
