St Benilde, JRU to fuel Final 4 bids

Games today (The Arena, San Juan)

12 noon – Letran vs St. Benilde (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs San Sebastian (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal U and St. Benilde try to inch closer to the Final Four as they gun for crucial victories over San Sebastian College and Letran, respectively, today in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Tied at third with 9-5 slates, the Bombers clash with the ousted Stags (3-11) at 4 p.m. while the Blazers tangle with the resurgent Knights (6-8) at 2 p.m.

But while JRU is expected to cruise past SSC, St. Benilde will have its hands full against Letran, out for a sweep of its last four games to stay in the semis race.

But aside from winning their last matches, the Knights must also hope that two from JRU, St. Benilde and fifth-running Perpetual Help (8-6) won’t go over 10 wins to force a playoff for the last Final Four seat.

“It’s going to be a fight because Letran is still in it and plays with a lot of pride as always,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco, whose charges downed Letran, 85-71, in their first round encounter last July 21.

But the Knights are coming off a stinging 44-73 blowout to the frontrunning and first semifinalist San Beda Red Lions (13-2) last Saturday that sent the runners-up in the last two years on the brink of elimination.

“That loss was a big blow to us,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia. “The only thing we can do is to pick up the pieces, go all out for a win in our last games.”

Jose Rizal, meanwhile, is seeking to get back at SSC, which hacked out an 88-81 victory last July 2 before the Stags went on a slump, losing 10 straight after starting with a 3-1 card.

The Bombers, in contrast, bounced with victories after victories to stay in the hunt although the Kalentong-based squad will be coming into the match reeling from a 69-75 loss to second-running Arellano (11-4) last week.