Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2:30 p.m. — San Beda vs Saint Benilde

The knockout game today that will determine which team goes on to face Letran College in the Season 101 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball best-of-three title series is going to be a chess match.

This is the belief of Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu, whose players battle the San Beda Red Lions in Game 3 of their semifinal race-to-two duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sam Beda crushed Saint Benilde, 91-72, last Tuesday at the Big Dome thanks to rookie Janti Miller’s 29-point eruption.

But with Miller opting not to play last Friday due to a contusion on his knee, the Blazers took Game 2, 77-75, thanks to a buzzer-beating shot from Ian Torres at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Even with the win, Tiu said Game 3 will boil down to who will want it more and who can make the right adjustments.

“I think at this point, it’s going to be a mental game. We left it all out there in Game 2 and we only have one day to prepare,” Tiu said.

“Our guys were camping up in the third quarter. It’s how we take care of our bodies and how we will be able to make adjustments. San Beda’s good at making adjustments and we should be able to do that.”

For San Beda mentor Yuri Escueta, he feels that they need to be mindful of their defense or they risk getting fouled. 

“Something that we can control is playing more disciplined on defense. The referees can call whatever they want but we can’t give them a reason to blow the whistle,” Escueta said.

“He (Miller) wasn’t comfortable with his knee and didn’t want to risk it. Hopefully, with the help of our PTs (physical thearapists) and our doctor, we might get him back on Sunday (today).”

Even without Miller, San Beda remains a livewire opponent.

Guys like Nygel Gonzales and Bryan Sajonia, who scored 17 and 16 points respectively in Game, have what it takes to take over the scoring cudgels from the flashy Miller.

Over at Saint Benilde, Tony Ynot will be expected to provide firepower after shooting 19 points in Game 2 as well as reigning Most Valuable Player and Gilas Pilipinas member Allen Liwag as he grabbed nine points and 15 rebounds.