INQUIRER Sports

UNBEATEN JOSE RIZAL shoots for the solo lead against Arellano U today in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Heavy Bombers, last year’s losing finalists, try to move ahead of the idle San Sebastian Stags in the 2 p.m. game with the Chiefs, who created a stir with two straight wins before losing to defending champion San Beda.

Both JRU, which is seeking its first title since 1972, and San Sebastian tote 3-0 cards.

Perpetual Help tries to barge into the win column against Angeles U Foundation, a guest team like Arellano, in the 4 p.m. showdown.

Both Perpetual Help and AUF are coming off losses with the Great Danes suffering a humiliating 63-101 loss to Mapua last Friday. The Altas bowed to the Letran Knights, 69-74, last Wednesday.

The pressure of hurdling the Chiefs is not lost on coach Ariel Vanguardia, who utilizes one of the deepest rosters in the league.

“It’s like every game, we are expected to win because of our lineup,” said Vanguardia, now on his fourth year mentoring the Bombers. “That’s why we cannot afford to relax.”

After surviving a scare against Letran, 69-66, the Bombers, led by a rejuvenated John Wilson, have left nothing to chance, winning by double digits in the last two games against Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The Bombers are expected to have their hands full against the Chiefs, who have a strong inside-outside game anchored by slotman Gio Ciriacruz and swingman Adrian Celada.

“Arellano is a veteran team in terms of being together as a team for the longest time,” Vanguardia said.

After crushing Letran and EAC, the Chiefs were overwhelmed by the Red Lions, 74-102.