CSB, JRU focus on twice-to-beat scheme vs foes

With all the Final Four berths in the bag, St. Benilde and Jose Rizal set their sights on the twice-to-beat advantage that goes to the top two teams as they tackle separate foes today in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Blazers, seeking to regain the title they won in 2000, take on the Letran Knights at 2 p.m. while the Bombers, who last won the title almost three decades ago, face the Perpetual Help Altas in the second seniors match at 5:30 p.m.

Of the two semifinalists seeing action, the Bombers have a greater chance of winning since the Altas have only won once in a dozen games this year. Jose Rizal completed the Final Four cast following an 81-79 victory over St. Benilde last Friday.

The Blazers sport a 9-3 record, just half a game behind defending champion San Sebastian’s 10-3 and barely ahead of Philippine Christian University’s 9-4 record. Letran, however, remains a tough nut to crack despite being out of the running with a 6-6 slate.

Jose Rizal, never expected to reach the Final Four with a rookie-laden lineup, must sweep its last two games, the last one against San Sebastian, to stay in the hunt for one of the top two slots going into the next round.

"The game against Perpetual is very important for us because it could give us the needed momentum as we prepare for our last game (in the elims) against San Sebastian," said JRU coach Boy de Vera who steered the Bombers to a runner-up finish last year.