MANILA, Philippines – Jose Rizal University tries to put an end to a fumbling start as it clashes with Emilio Aguinaldo College today in the 92nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Tipped to make the Final Four again with an intact roster, the Heavy Bombers have failed to live up to the hype, dropping three of their first four games to fall to the lower half of the 10-team field.
That included a stinging 66-69 defeat to the Lyceum Pirates, who finally broke into the win column after three straight losses last Friday.
“We’re not playing our game,” said a disappointed Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses, whose wards are in a four-way tie at sixth with EAC, San Sebastian and Lyceum.
Despite boasting of veterans Tey Teodoro, Paolo Pontejos and Jordan dela Paz and the Cameroonian duo of Abdel Poutouochi and Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab, the Bombers continued to struggle and must check their skid if they are to contend for a berth in the next round.
They hope to start a run at 2 p.m. as they take on the Generals bannered by Hamadou Laminou, Sydney Onwubere, Francis Munsayac, Remy Morada and Igee King, whose charges dropped a heartbreaking 67-70 defeat to the Allwell Oraeme-less Mapua last week.
Meanwhile, Lyceum tries to score a follow-up to its upset of JRU as it plays winless St. Benilde at 4 p.m.
Nigerian Mike Nzeusseu came through with career highs of 24 points and 21 rebounds while rookie Adrian Alban shot a career-best 19 points to power LPU to its first win.