Altas, Dolphins seek first ever final

Perpetual Help and Philippine Christian U try to arrange a showdown for this year’s NCAA basketball crown today as they clash with San Beda and Letran, respectively, in the Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Altas, seeking a first-ever stint in the final in two decades, battle the Red Lions, who needed to pass through a gruelling sudden death with the Mapua Cardinals to snatch the fourth and last semifinal berth. San Beda downed Mapua, 59-52, in their playoff last Wednesday, to set up a clash with Perpetual at 4 p.m.

The Dolphins are likewise looking for a maiden appearance in the championship in eight seasons but they will have to do it against the defending champion Knights starting at 2 p.m.

Despite the lack of Final Four experience, however, the Dolphins boast of an amazing seven-game streak and some of the league’s top talents headed by MVP frontrunner Gabriel Espinas.

Espinas, the high-leaping 6-foot-6 rookie from Clark, Pampanga, leads all cagers with Players All-around Value (PAV) score of 26.53 ahead of last year’s MVP San Sebastian’s Leo Najorda (25.78), Mapua’s Erwin Sta. Maria (23.81), Perpetual Help’s Dom Javier (22.26) and Mapua’s Christian Guevarra (21.77).

Other PCU players to watch are Ian Garrido, Robert Sanz, Michael Castro and Ramon Retaga Jr.

Another thing going for the Dolphins is that the Knights will be playing without their top gun Ronjay Enrile, who was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct in their final elimination round game against San Sebastian.

But PCU coach Loreto "Ato" Tolentino expressed guarded optimism on their chances and instead told his wards not to be too complacent.

"Alam namin na kami ang may momentum pero sabi ko sa mga bata huwag mag-kumpiyansa dahil mas beterano itong mga kalaban," said Tolentino.

Letran coach Louie Alas, for his part, said it’s up to the rest of the team to step up and fill the void left by Enrile.

"It’s going to be a big challenge for the other guys to step up because it’s now or never for us," said Alas.

Like the Knights, the Altas will also have to do it without sophomore forward Vladimir Joe, a vital cog in Perpetual Help’s solid performance in the elims, who was also suspended for punching Sta. Maria during the Perpetual-Mapua duel two weeks ago.

"We’ll have lesser problem with one of their starters suspended. But it does not mean it’s going to be easy so we’ll just have to treat the game as if they’re complete," said San Beda mentor Nash Racela.