LYCEUM of the Philippines University goes for the school’s unprecedented first round sweep as it faces lightweight Mapua University today in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors’ basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Pirates downed the Letran Knights, 75-68, last Friday for their eighth straight victory and another triumph in their 2 p.m. duel with the Cardinals, who are languishing in the cellar with a 1-6 (win-loss) record, would seal win No. 9 for a remarkable sweep of the round.
Lyceum Coach Topex Robinson, back from a one-game suspension following his ejection during their 97-93 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College at the Generals’ gym on August 10, said a sweep is farthest from their minds.
“Honestly, we didn’t discuss about a potential sweep but rather we want to be a better version of ourselves from our Letran game,” Robinson said.
Lyceum will again showcase its league-best offense of 89.4 points a game, much higher than Letran’s 75.3-point norm. CJ Perez has been at the forefront of the Pirates’ surge with an average of 18.6 points a game.
University of Perpetual Help and EAC, tied at sixth spot with 3-5 record, part ways when they take the floor at 4 p.m.
Skidding Arellano University (2-5) and College of St. Benilde (2-6), meanwhile, face off at 12 noon hoping to resuscitate some life to their dying Final Four hopes.