Lions, Cards clash in sudden death

Mapua sets out to complete the biggest reversal in the NCAA Final Four as it tries to make it two-in-a-row over fancied San Beda in their knockout duel today for the right to face Jose Rizal University in the finals.

The Cardinals, needing two victories to get into the championship, clinched the first win with a stunning 53-51 squeaker last Friday with the Muralla-based cager out to keep the pressure on the Red Lions in today’s 2:30 p.m. encounter at the Astrodome.

“Maybe they’re feeling the pressure of playing in this kind of situation, we hope to capitalize on it,” said Mapua coach Leo Isaac, a member of the MIT champion team in 1981 where he was also named MVP.

The Cardinals went to their zone defense to hold down the defending back-to-back champions to their second lowest output this season.

It was also Mapua, seeking its first finals stint since 1991, which dealt San Beda its worst loss in a 53-48 victory last Aug. 13.

“We feel we have the momentum but we’re not discounting a San Beda a comeback. They’re not the defending champions for nothing,” said Isaac.

Jose Rizal, which finished No. 2 behind elims topnotcher San Beda, nipped Letran, 63-61, in the other Final Four clash to notch the first championship berth.

To remain on track for a three-peat, the Lions will need to draw strong performances from Nigerian Sam Ekwe and skipper Pong Escobal, who had sub par games last Friday.

A visibly distracted Ekwe has been playing listlessly for San Beda, finishing with just four points last Friday. Escobal, a second round draft pick by Talk n Text in this year’s PBA rookie draft, also groped for form with four points, missing a game-clinching triple the last time out.

But the duo and the Lions are expected to come out roaring this time.

Meanwhile, Ekwe is tipped to bag his second MVP plum on Wednesday after Jason Ballesteros of San Sebastian was disqualified from winning the award after his team failed to make it at least the Final Four.