Red Lions shoot for collegiate diadem

Games tomorrow at Ynares Sports Center Pasig

Battle for third place

2 p.m. – USC Warriors vs. UV Green Lancers

Game 2 of best of 3

4 p.m. – SBC Red Lions vs. DLSU Green Archers

MANILA, Philippines - The San Beda College Red Lions, the five-peat NCAA champions, are on the verge of gaining another historic achievement, the first national collegiate title in 12 years.

The Red Lions are leading the DLSU Green Archers in the best-of-three championship series of the 2014 National Collegiate Championship after trouncing the Archers, 88-81, in Game One. The second game is set tomorrow at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.

The national champion will hold for one year the M. V. Pangilinan Perpetual Bronze Sculpture, “Abutin Ang Tagumpay”, symbol of collegiate basketball supremacy.

The school and team members will also receive P1 million worth of scholarship assistance, athletic items and gift certificates courtesy of ABS-CBN and sponsors.

The runner-up, third and fourth placers will receive items worth P450,000, P250,000 and P100,000, respectively. Other prizes are awarded to finals most valuable player, mythical team members, best coach and best performing referee.

Serving as an appetizer for the main game is the battle for third place between two Cebu teams – the CESAFI runners-up University of San Carlos Warriors and the University of Visayas Green Lancers.

The two teams earned the trip to Manila after they dislodged UAAP champion National U and FEU Tamaraws, from the Premier Four stage. Both teams registered impressive wins against top Manila teams during the Elite Eight Cebu leg.

The National Collegiate Championship is sponsored by media partners, ABS-CBN and The Philippine Star, Phoenix Petroleum, Molten Balls, Fil-Oil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery and Foccacia. Tickets are available at SM Tickets online.