By ANGELO JACINTO
AS San Beda strives to return to the NCAA men's basketball finals for the first time since 2019, coach Yuri Escueta is pleased to witness his team's unwavering commitment to the season's initial mantra.
Before the emergence of Jacob Cortez and Yukien Andrada as bonafide stars and the imminent chance to reach the NCAA finals with one more victory, Escueta and the Red Lions coaching staff consistently hammered home the importance of defense.
In their 89-68 win over Lyceum in Game One of the NCAA Season 99 semifinals, Escueta cited the defensive prowess displayed of his team which he hopes will carry over to the sudden-death match on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"From the end of the eliminations until the first game of the playoffs, our calling card has truly been our defense," he said. "They're going to come prepared for the next game; we're going to make our adjustments and have a good game on Friday."
As the Red Lions prepare to face the Pirates, history favors San Beda, as they have consistently outperformed the Intramuros-based squad since their emergence in the league.
Lyceum has yet to secure a playoff victory against the Red Lions, maintaining a 0-5 record following Tuesday's loss.
Despite this statistical advantage, Escueta is not taking the Pirates for granted as he guides his players to reclaim San Beda’s position atop the league.
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