STUMBLING BLOCK: Pirates find Blazers guarding entrance to Final Four

Games today:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

12 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs Lyceum

2:30 p.m. — JRU vs EAC

If Lyceum of the Philippines wants to get an outright berth in the Final Four of Season 100 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, it needs to beat league leader College of Saint Benilde first.

The Pirates, who have a 9-8 win-loss record, will try to get into the semifinals when they clash with the Blazers, who have a 14-3 card, today at 12 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

This match was supposed to happen last 23 October but was postponed due to tropical storm “Kristine.”

As it stands, only Saint Benilde, NCAA Season 99 finalist Mapua University, which is also in the second spot with a 14-3 slate, and defending champion San Beda University, which holds a 10-7 record in third spot, have secured slots for the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Lyceum currently is in solo fourth in the standings but it needs to pull a shocker against the Blazers to complete the Final Four cast and eliminate Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), which will go up against Jose Rizal University (JRU) at 2:30 p.m.

Technically, a loss against Saint Benilde won’t hurt the Pirates’ Final Four hopes if the Generals, who are in fifth with an 8-9 card, fall against the Heavy Bombers, who are at the bottom of the 10-team standings with a 4-13 slate.

But if Lyceum loses to the Blazers and EAC wins over JRU, there will be a playoff for fourth on 19 November at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Pirates, who suffered a 78-103 loss to the Blazers in the first round last 27 September, are determined to end the Final Four hunt today.

Now playing with a complete squad bannered by veterans John Barba, Mclaude Guadaña, and JM Bravo, who played in their 74-65 win over EAC last Tuesday after getting cleared, Lyceum has a solid chance to get the fourth spot for themselves.

A win by the Pirates could also derail Saint Benilde’s hopes of clinching the No. 1 seed as Mapua University could win its match against Arellano University on Saturday.

If the Blazers prevail, they will assume the No. 1 spot in the Final Four.

Still, Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan wants them to stay focused for the entire 40 minutes.

“I don’t want my players to be too confident. I want them to work hard because we aren’t done yet,” Malabanan said.

“Our goal is to get into the Final Four before thinking of anything else.”

Renz Villegas and Jonathan Daileg will be the ones to watch out for after scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Lyceum against EAC.

As for the Blazers, who already secured a twice-to-beat advantagebefore this match, head coach Charles Tiu said he sees this as a good challenge for them before the postseason begins on 23 November at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Tiu added if they want to be at the No. 1 seed, they can’t take Lyceum lightly.

“Although we will still play on the 23rd, it’s about the culture we’re trying to build. We want to win no matter what,” Tiu said.

“They (Lyceum) have also been in the Final Four for the past two years. If we had played them when it was not suspended, JM would have been out and Cunanan would have been suspended. Now they are at full force but that’s how basketball works.”

Jhomel Ancheta is expected to lead Saint Benilde after dropping 18 points and eight rebounds in their 70-62 win over San Beda last Wednesday.

As for EAC, head coach Jerson Cabiltes said they will monitor the game intently and then get down to business against JRU.

The Bombers won’t have head coach Louie Gonzalez at the sidelines this time after he was ejected in their 82-86 loss to University of Perpetual Help System Dalta last Tuesday after getting slapped with two technical fouls.

“We want to focus on the game against JRU. We will play with nothing to lose,” Cabiltes said.

“Saint Benilde is facing Lyceum in the first game so we can only pray and then do our job in the second game.”