Looking at Monday's NCAA matches: CSB, JRU, Mapua, Arellano

MANILA, Philippines – With the Final Four cast determined, all that is left of the elimination round of the 94th NCAA men’s basketball tournament is for teams try to improve on their win-loss record and their final placings. That too has some bearing on the Final Four if teams prefer to choose their opponent. This isn’t the time to be picky as you have to be careful for what you wish for.

Last Tuesday, four of the also-rans battled. The College of St. Benilde, the fifth placer that missed a chance to advance following its loss to Lyceum last week, trampled on last placer Jose Rizal University, 84-68, while Mapua punished Arellano University, 91-78. 

Soaking up experience for CSB

The CSB Blazers took a huge step toward respectability this year with the addition of blue-chip rookies and the play of its veterans. Some played to their potential while others struggled. You can point to the lack of experience as a culprit for their eventual fall and they will use this. They need to pick up a few more players because next season when it is the last for foreign players, they will need someone to back up Clement Leutcheu.  And Unique Naboa needs to be consistent if he wants to be one of the top point guards in the college ranks. 

JRU is in a transitional period and it is going to hurt

JRU is caught between graduating veterans and a lot of inexperienced young players.
Heading into year, outside for MJ Dela Virgen, many of the other holdovers did not get a lot of playing time. Some were coming back from injury. The young additions were exactly that — young and inexperienced. With their season done, they will need others to really step up because if not, NCAA Season 95 might be more of the same.

Mapua needs to build on what they have

If teams played all-Filipino, Mapua would be in the Final Four. But this team needs better improvement on so many facets — coaching, discipline and well, more power upfront. I love the fact that this team is mostly homegrown and there is a pride to this team. I wish though this team had that foreign player to complement the others because they are good. 

Arellano needs a center

I have to feel bad for a guy like Michael Cañete, who is this team’s version of San Sebastian’s Michael Calisaan — a stretch player who fills a variety of roles. That will help Cañete when he is done with college ball, but this team cannot waste its talent. They have a good guard corps but you cannot compete with that alone. This team needs some bigs. It is sad to see Elie Ongolo Ongolo not improve that much when they had one of the best big men to play the game in this country. Whoever takes over this team should look not only at recruitment but on player development. 

I see players wasting away on that bench.