LYCEUM of the Philippines University tries to extend its unprecedented hot start when it takes on unpredictable Arellano University at the resumption today of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.
The Pirates rolled to their third straight victory by turning back the San Sebastian Stags, 78-73, last Friday. They take on the Chiefs at 2 p.m.
Defending champion San Beda, meanwhile, tries to stay within striking distance of the leader as it tackles Letran at 4 p.m.
CJ Perez provided the spark as he fired a team-best 20 points while MJ Ayaay delivered the crucial shots as he poured in six of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Pirates downed the Stags after slaying the Jose Rizal University Bombers, 96-75, and the Red Lions, 96-91, in their first two outings.
Interestingly, San Beda, JRU and San Sebastian are three of the top four NCAA teams in the Filoil Premier Cup a month ago.
LPU coach Topex Robinson, however, was quick to temper expectations.
“You can’t win the championship in just three games. We have to keep working harder and stay hungry to sustain this winning streak,” Robinson said.
The Pirates face off with another contender, the Chiefs, last year’s losing finalists who zoomed to a 2-1 (win-loss) record after they edged the Bombers, 73-72, on a game-winning basket by Kent Salado last week.
Salado will be the player to watch after he finished with a game-best 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Mapua and EAC, both possessing 1-2 slates, collide at 12 noon.