Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. — CSB vs SSC-R (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — AUF vs EAC (Jrs)
2 p.m. — CSB vs SSC-R (Srs)
4 p.m. — AUF vs EAC (Srs)

After clinching a Final Four slot last week, San Sebastian College tries to stretch its winning record to 14 against College of St. Benilde Monday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags battle the also-ran Blazers at 2 p.m. with the hope of breaking their own winning record in the oldest collegiate league. The Stags set their longest streak last week by beating Mapua, 101-65, for their 13th win.

That 13-0 card topped its previous 12-0 mark they recorded after sweeping the double round elimination in 1997, the same year they won their fifth straight championship, which turned out to be the longest championship run in league history.

Guest teams Angeles University Foundation and Emilio Aguinaldo College, meanwhile, clash at 4 p.m. with both teams hoping to improve their records.

The cellar-dwelling Great Danes are out to snap a 12-game losing skid while the Generals are seeking to improve their 4-10 card.

Despite their streak, SSC mentor Ato Agustin doesn’t want to fall into a false sense of security.

“Right now, we have achieved what we aimed for (Final Four),” said Agustin, a former PBA MVP. “But we still have to work hard because we're still far from the title and we still have to contend with the toughest teams in the league.”

After Monday’s game, the Stags will enter the most crucial stretch of their campaign as they face the league heavyweights Letran and Jose Rizal University and defending champion San Beda in succession.

Agustin's concern is understandable considering that all teams, even the guests, improved tremendously in the second round.

“We watched the videos of our last two games in the first round, and I told them, this is us before. Look at us now, see the difference? It’s evident that other teams have adjusted in our style of game, making it harder for us to win. So therefore we also have to make our own adjustments,” Agustin, who is seeking to steer his squad to its 12th title, said.

A win today by the Stags will push them closer to securing the twice-to-beat Final Four incentive.

But more than clinching the semis bonus, they are also looking to sweep the double round eliminations to get an automatic final slot.

Jimbo Aquino, one of the leading candidates for MVP award, is again expected to be at the forefront of San Sebastian’s attack. In the Stags’ latest win, Aquino fired personal-high 31 points on a 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

Calvin Abueva and Dave Najorda are expected to back Aquino.