COLEGIO de Sta. Ana de Victorias Titans and STI-West Negros University Mustangs are facing off in the final round of the NOPSSCEA Season 38 men’s basketball.
Armed with twice-to-beat incentives after finishing 1-2 in the elimination round, the Titans and the Mustangs needed only one victory to book their spots in the championship battle.
The Titans, the defending champions, leaned on the exploits of Jeff Manday and Carl Magbanua to dispose of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos – last year’s second placer – 82-56 in the semifinals Tuesday in Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile the Mustangs made a return trip to the finals after an 85-74 domination over La Consolacion College-Bacolod in the other Final Four series.
With a powerhouse lineup and the experience they gained from the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, the Titans are favored to win again. But the Mustangs, who have ruled the NOPSSCEA before, are no pushovers.
Game 1 of the finals will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Victorias City Coliseum.
Finals’ Game 2 will be held in the same venue but Game 3, if necessary, will be played at the Mustangs’ home court.
The battle for third place between UNO-R and LCC-Bacolod will be at the West Negros gym./PN
