NCAA caging Lions seek payback vs Bombers
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:50:00 08/22/2008
GAMES FRIDAY (Cuneta Astrodome)
11:30 a.m.—JRU vs San Beda (Jrs)
2 p.m. —Perpetual vs PCU (Srs)
4 p.m.—JRU vs San Beda (Srs)
MANILA, Philippines—Their positions reversed since their first encounter, pacesetter Jose Rizal University goes up against defending champion San Beda College on Friday in a duel that could determine which team locks up one of the two twice-to-beat Final Four incentives in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Gametime is set at 4 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City with the JRU Heavy Bombers hoping to prove that their 79-74 victory over the San Beda Red Lions in the first round was no fluke.
The Lions were unbeaten when they bowed to the Bombers, who spewed fire from beyond the arc in the final period to end San Beda’s streak.
The Bombers are riding high on a season-high eight-game winning run, but coach Ariel Vanguardia said they are still the underdogs.
“I think they were only caught by the law of averages in our last game so I’m expecting another tough fight against San Beda,” said Vanguardia, whose feud with Lions coach Frankie Lim has provided an interesting sidelight in the San Beda-JRU rivalry.
The two coaches did not shake hands after their first round game.
The Lions warmed up for Friday’s game by thumping the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 72-55, Monday, prompting Lim to say that San Beda has gotten its rhythm back.
“We recovered; we had good talks,” said Lim. “We’re trying very hard to manage the situation. I guess from this day on, we’ll be back.”
The Bombers, for their part, beat Letran College, 76-72, Friday with big man James Sena leading the way with 19 points.
Philippine Christian University and Perpetual, two teams out of the running in the race for Final Four berths, collide in the first game at 2 p.m.
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