With the second round of eliminations on the way, the 82nd Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is now in its payoff stage. With the Final 4 just weeks away, even with the top four teams seemingly in comfortable spots, anything can still happen. At stake in this critical second round are the two twice-to-beat incentive slots to be given to the teams with the best and second best records at the end of the double round robin eliminations.

At the helm are the roaring San Beda Red Lions with an 8-1 record. Although they have the same record as Letran they get the top spot on the win-over-the-other rule. Their only loss was an early first round battle of attrition against Philippine Christian University. With the dynamic play of their two prize rookies - 6-foot-8 Nigerian giant Samuel Ekwe and crackerjack Davao pointguard John Paul Escobal - and the resurgent games of veterans Alex Angeles, Bong Maggay and Yousif Al Jammal, the boys from Mendiola are running roughshod over the rest of the NCAA. Their last victory to wrap up the first round was a walloping of defending Champion Colegio De San Juna De Letran, a statement game that saw the Red Lions hold the Knights to a measly 49-point output. San Beda may well be on its way to the Finals, there to make good on their season battlecry of “Ending 28 at 82.”

Letran however shares the lead with San Beda with an identical 8-1 record after their recent victory over Perpetual Help. PBA hopefuls Aaron Aban and Boyet Bautista have been the most consistent 1-2 punch in the NCAA this season, routinely leading the Knights in scoring and being effective oncourt and off-the-court leaders for the Muralla-based squad. While fears of the two stars having to carry their team still persist, they have been getting good help from their teammates, especially off the glass. Coach Louie Alas has made good use of his relative newcomers with Rey Guevarra, Mike Realista, Joey Jazul and Dino Daa seeing good minutes. Letran's fullcourt press has wreaked havoc on every team, including San Beda which needed to make adjustments on their press break against the feisty Knights. Every one and his brother thought the Knights would struggle this season with the loss of many key players but are now in good form to defend their crown.

PCU still boasts the most talented lineup across the board in the NCAA and are holding onto third place with a 7-2 record. They are the only team to have beaten the mighty Red Lions, early in the first round. Gabby Espinas looks headed for yet another MVP season, even as Jason Castro can now rightfully dispute the Best Pointguard title in the league against any comers. Beau Belga and Listzian Amparado have been quietly steady, providing quality depth for the Dolphins. Somewhat missing in action has been the enigmatic Ian Garrido. Garrido was expected to have a breakout season with the departure of Rob Sanz, the man whose position and numbers he was supposed to take. He has so far been erratic. PCU must now find a way to run on all cylinders every game if they want to make it back to the Finals.

Mapua has been hanging on to that pivotal fourth spot in the standings with a 5-4 record. Do-it-all forward Joferson Gonzalez and combo-guard Kelvin Dela Pena have been playing sweet music for the Cardinals, one of only two teams to have beaten PCU. Their lack of ceiling however has hampered their chances especially against teams with productive post games. Undersized center Jerby Del Rosario has been doing a yeoman's job against the taller timber in the league but is often overmatched. The emergence of Sean Co as a consistent third option for Mapua has somewhat offset the height deficit for Coach Horacio Lim's boys though. Co has been putting up better scoring numbers than both Gonzalez and Dela Pena in at least five games, getting his shots off from virtually any spot on the court. Mapua however needs to tighten up on their defense, perhaps gamble with a fullcourt press, if they expect to make some noise in the Final 4.

San Sebastian Recoletos remains a two-man operation with veteran gunners Red Vicente and Jim Viray carrying the torch for the Recto-based squad. From time to time they have also gotten some production from frontliner Omar Ampatuan, and forwards Jason Ballesteros and Miguel Lindaya, but there is simply not enough consistency with the Stags this season to bring them to the Final 4. With a 3-5 record a possible entry into the Final 4 is not entirely in their hands and would thus come as a major surprise. Defense has been very inconsistent for the Stags this season, and the absence of a quality bigman is telling. Years of having the likes of Leo Najorda, Banjo Calpito and Rommel Adducul seems to have spoiled San Sebastian as they have struggled without a bigtime post player.

The rest of the field is looking forward to next season, hopefully with some quality recruits on the horizon. Perpetual Help in particular has been perplexingly disappointing. With a lineup that includes talents like Fritz Bauzon, Kiel Misa, Johnson Kong and (at least in the first round) Vladimir Joe, and an experienced coach like Bai Cristobal, the Altas are at the wrong end of the standings at 2-7. Floyd Dedicatoria remains virtually a one-man operation for the JRU Heavy Bombers, although Caloy Fenequito, Jayson Nocom and Ryan Sena have flashed some brilliance this season. St Benilde would rather forget this season as they languish at the bottom of the standings. With up and coming talents like Jeff Libunao, William Johnston and Jacob Manlapaz having already spent some time together, next season promises to be much better, because it sure can't get much worse than this season.

With the Final 4 about a month away, it looks like the cast is set: San Beda, Letran, PCU and Mapua. It says here San Beda makes good on its battlecry.