IN what could be a preview  of  yet another possible  championship clash , San Sebastian and defending champion San Beda   collide today with no less than the top spot at stake in the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Stags, toting a 15-1 win-loss card, need only to win today to secure the no. 1 spot,  while the Red Lions (15-2) need to win by at least three points or more to snatch the top spot.

The Stags beat the Red Lions, 70-68, in the first round.

The top team arranges a meeting with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers,  who  notched  the No. 4 position  after compiling a 9-9 mark,  ‘while the No. 2  squad takes  on the Letran Knights,  the third placer  with a 14-4  card after the eliminations.

Both teams  are coming off impressive victories, with the   Stags,  whose  win streak  was halted by an 81-82 overtime loss  to  the Knights  a week ago,   bouncing back with an 80-68 dumping of the Lyceum Pirates to secure one of two twice-to-beat  incentive.

The Red Lions then disposed of the Knights, 84-68 last Friday, to pick up the second twice-to-beat bonus,  leading  to today’s crucial match.

In their second and final meeting at 4 p.m.  today,  the  Stags will parade the same deadly unit led by Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and the lanky Ian Sangalang,  against an equally talented  Red Lions squad  backstopped by Garvo Lanete, Kyle and Jake Pascual, Rome dela Rosa and spitfire Baser Amer.