It is the same cast of protagonists that contested the top two finals seats last year, but this year's semifinal showdown in NOPSSCEA men's basketball, between defending titlist West Negros University Mustangs and University of St. La Salle and Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod Eagles against UNO-Recoletos Rams, will be character-defining for all teams involved.

The Mustangs will try to extend their 10-year rule in the annual league among private schools when they face a newly-overhauled Stingers at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow following the equally highly-charged 3:30 p.m. battle between the Eagles and the Rams.

Both semis games will be played at the LN Agustin Memorial Sports Center at the WNU.

While WNU head coach Troy Sarabia is now a familiar face in Mustangs' bench since he transferred teams in summer, most NOPSSCEA followers still remember his winning moments with the Stingers.

Sarabia hopes to steer the high-profile WNU team to its 11 th NOPSSCEA title this year but before he can do that, he needs to prevail over his previous team, the Stingers, who are now under the tutelage of Daniel Chiu, in tomorrow's semis.

To say that the face-off has the potential to turn into a grudge match will not be an understatement as WNU and USLS have their own colorful history of roller-coaster end games in the books of NOPSSCEA.

Last year's runner-up CSA-B team is also expected to give everything it has in the other semis match-up tomorrow.

The Lorenzo Solinap-mentored Eagles are slightly favored over Ireneo Morales' Rams. Both teams split their elimination round games winning by three points in close matches.

The Mustangs and the Eagles have a twice-to-beat advantage and Sunday has been reserved for the playoff in case the Stingers and the Rams get lucky in their encounter tomorrow.

Coach Morales has to overcome the drought that befall the once-mighty UNORians while the Eagles, under Solinap, are expected to soar high and prove itself as the worthy challenger for the much covered NOPSSCEA men's basketball title this year.*NAB

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