Lions go for jugular vs Knights, NCAA title No. 24

Games Saturday (December 13)

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

8 a.m. – UPHSD vs CSB (Battle for Third)

2 p.m. – Letran vs San Beda (Finals)

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda shoots for the title-clincher minus its super rookie Agjanti Miller against a determined Letran side that is eyeing an equalizer Saturday in NCAA Season 101 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lions punished Knights coach Allen Ricardo’s untimely player experiment where in he started a bunch of role players with hopes of surprising and unnerving the former.

It didn’t work and backfired instead as San Beda pummeled its bitterest rival, 89-70, Wednesday at the Big Dome and seized a 1-0 lead in their short but sweep series and a win away from claiming its league-best 24th senior basketball crown.

But it wasn’t all roses though as the Lions will have the prolific and athletic Miller serving a one-game suspension in their 2 p.m. duel for being tossed out in Game 1 for a pair of technical fouls due to flopping.

The Benedictine school did try to plea for justice and a reversal but it fell on deaf ears and the ruling stuck.

“Appeal denied,” San Beda manager Jude Roque told The STAR on Friday.

Miller though could still return and play in the finals assuming the series goes to a deciding Game 3 Tuesday at the same Cubao venue.

But San Beda isn’t inclined on extending the finale to another game and giving Letran a reprieve.

“I’m confident of my players, we would find ways,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta.

For Ricardo, he is uncertain if he will employ the same tact of starting seldom-used players and letting the best ones, including the ultra talented Titing Manalili, come off the bench.

There is optimism though that Ricardo could just let Manalili and his big guns start and hope for the best for a Letran team aiming to close in on San Beda and claim its 21st crown.