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NCAA Final Four Preview: Lions vs Altas, Stags vs Knights

The country's oldest sports organization features today one of its most exciting Final Four matches in its 88-year history. Four teams have survived a grueling double round elimination in this season's NCAA — San Beda, San Sebastian, Letran and Perpetual Help. In both matches, no team has a significant edge over the other.

The first encounter features defending two-time champions Red Lions against surprise semi-finalists Altas. San Beda, under new coach Ronnie Magsanoc, will go all out to establish another three-peat, which it first achieved from 2006 to 2008. The Lions lost the crown to the Stags in 2009 but reclaimed it in the last two seasons. Also under new mentor Aric Del Rosario, Perpetual Help barged into the Final Four for the first time since 2004. This is why the Las Pinas-based squad is in high spirits going into this match-up with SBC, the same team it defeated the last time it played in the NCAA semis. This season, the Altas and Lions split their games, with the former winning in overtime, 88-87, in the first round, and the latter prevailing in the second, 60-53. After the elims, San Beda topped the team standings with a 15-3 card, gaining a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis over No. 4 UPHSD, which has an 11-8 record. While the Lions are slightly favored in this encounter, the Altas won't be easy prey. A tight contest can be expected.

Even more explosive is the second semis game between No. 2 San Sebastian (13-5) and No.3 Letran (12-6). So far this year, the Knights have not lost to the Stags, winning their first- and second-round encounters. On opening day, the host school upended SSC, 80-74. The Muralla-based school repeated with a blowout 82-67 victory in the second round. It seems that while the Stags have a twice-to-beat edge, getting past the Knights won't be a walk in the park. To make things worse for the Recto-based squad, the Stags won't be playing today with ace shooter Ronald Pascual, who is serving a one-game suspension for a punching foul on San Beda's Rome Dela Rosa last October 8.

In both games today, scintillating basketball action can be expected. To further enjoy the games, here are some interesting features to watch out for:

SAN BEDA VERSUS PERPETUAL HELP

1. Offense versus Defense

Under multi-titled bench tactician Aric Del Rosario, the Altas have become a strong offensive team. Ranked third in the league in offense, with 72.2 points per game, UPHSD has several gunners now than in previous years. The prolific senior player Jet Vidal averages 17.2 markers per game. He is backed up by the vastly improved Earl Thompson with 11.7 points per game, followed by Nigerian recruit Nosa Omorogbe's 9.4 markers per game. Even George Allen, Justin Alano, Anthony Paulino and Ariyo Babayemi contribute significant numbers in offense for the Perps. On the other hand, Red Lions coach Ronnie Magsanoc emphasizes on defense, allowing only a league-best 58.9 points per outing to their opponents. SBC is also just a notch lower than Perpetual Help in scoring, with 71.1 points per game.

2. Jet-sanity versus Amer-acle

Perpetual's Jet Vidal has always been a feared sniper. This year, he has fired more triples than anybody else in the league, with a total of 50. He carries the scoring cudgels for UPHSD each game with an average of 17.2. But former NCAA juniors MVP and national youth standout Baser Amer of San Beda has been given the green light by Magsanoc to take charge in offense. In their first round meeting, Amer sent the game into overtime with a long heave from the backcourt with just 0.8 second left in the clock. That shot was dubbed "AMERacle BASER-beater (a miracle buzzer-beater)." This match-up should be a welcome sidelight.

3. Battle of the boards

The Altas outrebounded the Lions in their first meeting this season, 48-44. Sans Nigerian import Olaide Adeogun, San Beda managed to send the game into overtime with a miracle shot from sophomore Baser Amer but lost crucial rebounds in the extra period to complete what could've been an amazing comeback. The Altas lead the Lions in rebounding this year by three caroms per game. The rebounding story can be a crucial factor in today's battle.

4. Coaching battle

It will be a battle between contrasting coaching styles today. An offensive minded veteran basketball guru Del Rosario is paired up against a defensive specialist first-time coach Magsanoc. Both mentors believe in organized play and prepare their teams well for games. Expectedly, both tacticians will come out with surprise game strategies in this bout and this will be a delight to see.

5. Desire to win

Which is the hungrier team, the one seeking a rare grand slam or the other that has never won a title since joining the league in 1984? It will be a battle of who wants it more.

SAN SEBASTIAN VERSUS LETRAN

1. The Beast versus The Ace

The center of attraction in this game will be the battle between two of the league's best scorers — Calvin Abueva and Kevin Alas. Abueva leads the league in offense with 20.1 points per game but Alas is close behind with 20 markers per outing. Both cagers have been explosive this season and a shootout between the two is inevitable tonight.

2. Sangalang versus Almazan

Not to be outdone is the duel between the teams' giants — SSC's Ian Sangalang and Letran's Raymond Almazan. Sangalang is expected to win the MVP plum this year with his amazing norms of 19.9 markers, 12.5 boards and 1.4 blocks. But Almazan has been a revelation this season as he helped tow the Knights to the semis. He posted remarkable numbers of seven points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per outing. The match-up between the two centers will certainly add value to the game.

3. Freestyle play versus organized play

Letran coach Louie Alas has instilled a tried and tested basketball system in the Knights' program since he took over the team in 2002. He ensures discipline among his boys, which include his two sons, Kevin and Kris. Only through discipline have the Knights been successful all these years, and coach Alas makes sure he has total control of their actions on the floor. In contrast, interim coach Allan Trinidad gives the Stags the free hand to show their stuff in the court. Abueva, Pascual and Sangalang are allowed to create for themselves and enjoy the game more. This has proven to be an effective mode for the Stags this year as their offense is more free flowing.

4. Offense versus Defense

San Sebastian is tough to shackle in the offensive end. It is the best scoring team this year with an average of 79.6 points per game. Letran just collects 70.9 markers per outing. But the Knights have always been regarded as a topnotch defensive unit. They are third best in the league in defense, behind San Beda and Mapua, allowing opponents just 68.3 points per game. The Stags give up an average of 73.5 points.

5. Physical game

The Stags and Knights are said to be two of the most physical teams in the NCAA. Both teams are filled with sturdy warriors. In a semis game, expect the physicality to be at the highest level as both teams fight for survival.

Close encounters are expected in today's semis matches. The Altas and Knights will fight to force a sudden death on Monday. The Lions and Stags are slightly favored today and are expected to arrange another titular contest starting on Thursday.

San Beda and Perpetual Help tangle at 4 p.m. followed by the San Sebastian-Letran tussle at 6 p.m.

As appetizers, the high school division's semis games are just as exciting, with defending four-time champs San Beda Red Cubs hoping to boot out the Letran Squires at 12 noon, and the San Sebastian Starlets raring to relive their old glory in the division with a victory versus the La Salle Greenhills Junior Blazers at 2 p.m.

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.

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