YURI Escueta is preparing San Beda for Perpetual's expected arrival in the NCAA Season 102 playoffs.
But the Red Lions aren't quite ready to cross out San Sebastian.
READ: San Beda claims Group A top seed after blowing out St. Benilde
San Beda, which finished the elimination round with the league's best record at 10-3, awaits the winner of Thursday's play-in between the Altas and the winless Golden Stags. Perpetual holds the twice-to-beat advantage, making it the heavy favorite to advance.
Still, Escueta knows better than to treat the result as a formality.
"Of course, they still have to play San Sebastian," Escueta said after the Red Lions clinched the top seed.
For now, though, San Beda's attention is understandably drawn toward Perpetual, a team that has found its footing in the second round and remains capable of making life difficult for the tournament's No. 1 seed.
"We have to prepare well for Perpetual. They've been playing much better this last round," Escueta said.
"And knowing, of course, Coach Olsen and the players that they have, they're a very capable team."
Twice as important
The Red Lions earned the luxury of waiting after a 10-3 elimination campaign that gave them not just the top seed, but the tournament advantage that comes with finishing in the top two.
Escueta considers that edge particularly valuable in the NCAA, where familiarity and parity can quickly erase the gap between teams.
"That's big, especially in the NCAA when all of the teams, you know, can beat you," he said.
It is also why San Beda cannot afford to lock itself into one playoff script.
The top seed has bought San Beda time to prepare for its title defense, but it has not given the Red Lions space to project assumptions this early.
And after a season in which they overcame injuries, roster losses, and inconsistency to finish with the NCAA's best record, Escueta wants his team to enter the playoffs prepared for whichever opponent survives the play-in.
"Nothing is going to be easy," he said.
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