The NCAA Final Four Matchup

My UAAP Finals prediction was close, but no cigar. However this is what makes blogging about basketball fun, and this time around, it'll be for the NCAA Final Four.

It has been finally settled. After all the delays and the playoff game, the defending champions San Beda Red Lions takes the Number one seed as they face of the Rey Guevarra-less Letran Knights as the San Sebastian Stags fights with the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers.

San Beda College Red Lions vs Colegio de San Juan Letran Knights

The Red Lions are at an all-time high this season, taking the number 1 slot with consecutive victories after their loss to the Heavy Bombers by winning their last remaining games and forcing a playoff game against the Stags, who led the much of the season.

Meanwhile, things look pretty bleak for the Knights, as one of their leading scorers and Smart Gilas Stalwart Rey Guevarra will not play due to a knee injury sustained from their game last time out against the Red Lions.

Coach Frankie Lim would have to make sure his players do not get overconfident and need to maintain their composure against the very physical Letran Knights. The Red Lions must maintain their game of penetration and scoring on easy buckets and open jump shots. The guards of the Red Lions will have to perform as usual with John Hermida and Garvo Lanete leading the Lions' offense, and Sudan Daniel has to focus and do the dirty work inside. Dave Marcelo and Pascual must help Daniel inside and be assertive.

Meanwhile on defense, the Lions must limit RJ Jazul's production, as surely he will be the focal point of the Knights' offense and they must make sure they shut down the Knights' frontline and make it tough for them to score, as their scorings options is now down to a few players.

Coach Louie Alas has pretty much his work cut-out for his team, now that the Knights will not have Rey Guevarra in their matchup against the Lions, the focal point of the offense will surely be with RJ Jazul, and every little help he could get from his teammates will be much appreciated. Kirk Del Rosario must step it up a notch and so does John Foronda and Kris Alas must avoid foul trouble if possible as the Knights' frontline is not as deep compared to the Lions.

On defense, the Knights could take advantage of Daniel's moody character, and with the physical play of the Knights, this is pretty much possible. If they are able to make Daniel get the focus out of the game, then the Knights' frontline could take that advantage to score inside. They must also limit the production the Lions will make from their guards and shut down the passing lanes from their penetration.

Prediction: SBC will take this one, unless a miracle happens and someone from the Knights step-up.

San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags vs Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers

The second matchup is interesting, with the Stags ending on a losing skid from the eliminations and the playoff game heading into the matchup with the Heavy Bombers going easy and preparing for the Final Four.

Unlike their neighbors in Mendiola, the Stags are at an all-time low this season, getting back-to-back defeats for the first time this season against the Red Lions, and aside from that, Jimbo Aquino will most likely be suspended for what he did against San Beda's Jake Pascual.

On the other hand, things look good for the Heavy Bombers, having a long break preparing for the Final Four and even though they have to beat the Stags twice to advance to the Finals, their opponents are pretty much tired from two exhausting and close games against the Red Lions.

This will be coach Ato Agustin's first ever Final Four appearance, and also for the Stags in a while. However, their leading scorer Jimbo Aquino will not be with them for the first game of the Final Four therefore, Calvin Abueva, and Ronald Pascual must step-up and taking the scoring slack for the Stags. The guards Anthony Del Rio and Pamboy Raymundo must trigger their high octane offense that has been missing against the Red Lions and setup Ian Sangalang and Gilbert Bulawan on the inside for those easy buckets.

On defense, they must limit the outside shooting of MVP candidate John Wilson and Marc Cagoco while keeping the pressure inside. Abueva also must make his presence felt inside, along with Sangalang and Bulawan to matchup against the frontline of James Sena, John Njei and Marvin Hayes and make sure that they keep the game close.

Meanwhile experience is on the Heavy Bombers' side, being a finalist a year ago and most of the core of that lineup intact, the Heavy Bombers will rely again on John Wilson's all around game while Marc Cagoco must make sound decisions on the court. James Sena must step-up in this game and assert himself inside. Marvin Hayes and John Njei will do the dirty work and grab those second chance points for the Bombers. The Bombers must limit their turnovers too to prevent those fastbreak points for the Stags.

On defense, Njei and Hayes must prevent those easy baskets for the Stags' frontline and grab those defensive rebounds. The guards of the Bombers must pressure the Stags' backcourt and make them earn their points or forces some turnovers and take advantage of the fatigue factor from the get go.

Prediction: JRU will take this one, with the inexperience and fatigue factor for the Stags and the experience JRU has, this will be a learning experience for them and also, for their coach Ato Agustin.