Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)2 p.m. - San Beda vs San Sebastian (Jrs)4 p.m. - San Beda vs San Sebastian (Srs)MANILA, Philippines -San Beda wants to win the NCAA basketball title without losing a single game to San Sebastian, head coach Frankie Lim said on Tuesday."I would be a hypocrite to deny that we also want that (win the crown via an 18-0 sweep)," Lim told the PSA Forum on the eve of the title series that will be played at the Araneta Coliseum.Still, Lim wants his players to put the idea of a sweep at the back of their minds and "focus on every game."Owing to their 16-0 sweep of the eliminations, theLions only have to win two out of five games to become champions, while the Stags have to do it thrice."To push the record to 18-0, we should not really think about it just like what we did when we swept the eliminations," said Lim. San Sebastian wound up with a 16-3 slate and head coach Ato Agustin, who was unable to attend the weekly forum because a pressing concern, exuded confidence that San Beda, aiming to capture its 15th crown, can be beaten."If we can stop their transition attack, then we will have a great chance of beating them," Agustin looking to give the Recto-based squad its 13th crown.In last year'seliminations, San Sebastian won just one of three games with San Beda but got back at the Lions in the finals as the Stags scored a 2-0 sweep."We've learned our lessons from last year.
We faltered. We were not as aggressive as we should have been," Lim said. "Pero iba na angmateryales ko ngayon. I may have five rookies but they are all tough."Because of their elimination sweep, the Lions had not seen action since September 29, something that hasn't bothered Lim at all."We wereaware of that. We tried to find ways to keep ourselves in top shape," said Lim, adding that the marked men for the Stags will be Calvin "The Beast" Abueva and Paboy Raymundo.Abueva, the leading candidate for MVP honors, averages a league-best 12.6 rebounds per game and a third-best 16.3 points an outing. Raymundo is a force in scoring as evidenced by his 29-point output the last time the Stags faced the Lions.Spearheading the Red Lions will be American import Sudan Daniel, another MVP contender."Langit at lupa ang difference ng laro niya from last year. He's working hard and really improved a lot," Lim said of the 6-foot-8 center.Despite their height advantage and deeper bench, Lim said it will still be a tall order facing the Stags."They have the championship experience and I expect the same magnitude (physicality of the game)," Lim said.
