JRU out to stay close behind San Beda

FASTBREAK:

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:17:00 10/09/2009

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

 W L
 S. Sebastian 16 1
 San Beda 15 2
 Jose Rizal 14 3
 Letran 12 6
 Arellano 8 10
 EAC 6 11
 St. Benilde 6 11
 Mapua 5 12
 Perpetual 3 15
 AUF 2 16

GAMES FRIDAY (FilOil Flying V Arena)
10 a.m.?St. Benilde vs Mapua(Jrs)
11:45 a.m.?Jose Rizal vs EAC (Jrs)
2 p.m.?St. Benilde vs Mapua(Srs)
4 p.m.?Jose Rizal vs EAC (Srs)

JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY tries to stay in contention for the remaining Final Four bonus when the Bombers go up against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the NCAA men?s basketball tournament Friday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A JRU win in the 4 p.m. duel will push the third-running Bombers just half a game behind defending champion San Beda (15-2).

But the Bombers can forge a playoff for the remaining twice-to-beat advantage only if the Red Lions drop their final game against the San Sebastian Stags on Monday.

The Stags claimed the first of two Final Four bonus by downing the Bombers, 84-76, for a 16-1 slate Wednesday.

?We?re still hurting from that loss but we have to take care of business and move on,? said JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose Bombers beat the Generals, 83-69, in the first round.

Earlier, St. Benilde, also ranked sixth at 6-11, wraps up its elimination campaign against Mapua in a no-bearing game at 2 p.m.