Games on Friday (The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. — Perpetual Help vs EAC (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — Arellano vs Letran (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Perpetual Help vs EAC (Srs)
4 p.m. — San Sebastian vs Letran (Srs)

The “real thing” begins for the record-setting San Sebastian College on Friday as it battles Letran as the Stags press their bid for a sweep of the elims in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags, who now own the longest winning streak in the league, collide with the Knights at 4 p.m. in what could be a preview of their Final Four series starting on October 12.

But with three games remaining the in eliminations, the Stags are expected to strive for a sweep as this feat would give them an outright finals berth and they  need not go into a Final 4 showdown.

The Stags are on top of standings with an immaculate 15-0 card while the Knights, who are running fourth with 11-5, are likely to square off in the Final Four, granting that San Sebastian would stumble in their remaining games and have their sweeping ambition foiled.

After Letran, SSC will face JRU on Monday then defending three-time champion San Beda College on October 7. Both JRU and San Beda tote similar 14-2 records.

San Sebastian broke the previous record for consecutive wins of 14 set by San Beda three years ago by dumping Arellano University, 100-66, last Monday for its 15th win.

University of Perpetual Help, meanwhile, tries to snap a five-game losing streak when it collides with Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2 p.m. in a battle of also-rans squads.