Red Lions, Chiefs face off for Final 4

San Beda and Arellano meet in a duel of champions to decide which team advances to a semifinal showdown against La Salle in the Fil-Oil Flying V Champions League at The Arena in San Juan today.

Letran and FEU, losing semifinalists in their respective leagues, clash in the day’s other game with the winner facing top favorite Ateneo in the Final Four of the tourney which gathers the cream of the collegiate teams for the right to represent the country in the Universiade in Serbia next year.

The Eagles clobbered the Mapua Cardinals, 67-53, while the Archers shot down the UE Warriors, 75-72, to gain the first two semis seat in the event sponsored by Fil-Oil, Flying V, Smart-PLDT, Adidas, Accel, Molten and The Philippine STAR.

It could become an exciting UAAP-NCAA showdown should San Beda and Letran dispose of Arellano and FEU.

However, the Chiefs, the reigning NCRAA champions, are raring to gatecrash the big guns’ party.

“We’ll take the chance to beat one of the strongest collegiate teams in the country right now. We’ll give it our best shot,” said Arellano coach Leo Isaac.

Arellano banked heavily on Orlando Daroya’s 31-point game as it overpowered UCAA titlist Universal College, 76-61, in the Sweet 16 phase.

“That’s our problem. Coach Frankie Lim and his staff have scouted Daroya. He’s now a marked man,” said Isaac.

Letran and FEU clash in a battle of teams with players toughened up by their PBL stints.

The Knights, who have a number of players playing for Toyota-Balintawak, walloped the SSC-Cavite Baycats, 80-65, while the Tamaraws, the core of them playing for Harbour Centre, rapped the JRU Heavy Bombers, 84-75, in the opening round Saturday.