Three teams out to boost NC semis bids

MANILA, Philippines - Three teams seek to firm up their respective Final Four bids while another tries to stay in the semifinal hunt as action heats up in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan today.

Second-running Arellano U (9-2) clashes with Perpetual Help, which shares third spot with Jose Rizal U at 7-4, at 2 p.m. while the Heavy Bombers see action at 4 p.m. against the Lyceum Pirates, at sixth with a 5-6 card but still in the semis race with seven games left in the double-round elims.

Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera said there would be no major adjustment as far as their gameplan against Perpetual, which it beat, 97-85, in their first round meeting last July 26.

“We want to keep on attacking, it worked for us in our first meeting,” said Codiñera.

The Altas, however, are out to even things up with the Chiefs with coach Aric del Rosario to use a different approach against their first round tormentors.

“It’s hard to beat them in transition. So our plan is step up the pace when they’re slowing it and slow down the pace when they’re starting to run,” said Del Rosario.

A win for the Las Piñas-based squad will boost its drive for a top two finish with San Beda, leading the way with a 10-2 slate, tipped to clinch the top spot in the Final Four.

Jose Rizal is also out to avenge its first round defeat to Lyceum, 80-84, but the Muralla-based squad is also itching to rebound from a series of losses to revive its semifinal hopes.