Stags gun for semis bonus vs Bombers

FASTBREAK:

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:31:00 10/06/2009

Filed Under: Basketball, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

SAN SEBASTIAN goes for the next best thing after failing in its bid to sweep the NCAA men?s basketball tournament.

The Stags shoot for the first twice-to-beat semifinal bonus against the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Eliminated teams St. Benilde and Perpetual Help clash in the first game at 2 p.m.

?It?s heartbreaking, but we have to move on and focus on getting the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four,? San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin said yesterday, 12 days after the Letran Knights snapped the Stags? record 15-game winning streak with a shock 80-63 rout.

The upset foiled the Stags? bid to complete an 18-game sweep and earn an outright championship berth.

But a win is also crucial for the Bombers, last season?s losing finalists who remain in strong contention for one of two Final Four incentives along with defending champion San Beda.

The idle Lions hold a second-best 15-2 record, just half a game behind the Stags, while the Bombers tote a 14-2 card.