Jose Rizal U coach Vergel Meneses has set high standards for his team this season.
Even if the Heavy Bombers have overachieved with a 6-3 record at the end of the first round of the 90th NCAA basketball tournament, Meneses was quick to remind his players of their unfinished task.
How the Bombers respond to their coach’s challenge will be known at 2 p.m. today when JRU puts its strong run on the line against dangerous Letran at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
St. Benilde collides with Emilio Aguinaldo College in the second game at 4 p.m.
The Blazers, who hope to rise from a three-team logjam at fourth spot, have won five of their last six games to vault into Final Four contention.
The Bombers are gunning for a fifth straight win.
“Our job is not finished,” said Meneses of the Bombers who are gunning for a fifth straight win. “We have nothing to celebrate about just yet because it’s just the first round and we’re only halfway through the season.”
Philip Paniamogan has been one of the players largely responsible for the Bombers’ turnaround after a 2-3 start. The Cagayan de Oro-born sniper fired all of his 26 points in the second half of the win over Mapua at the end of the first round.
Tey Teodoro has also given the Bombers’ stability at the backcourt, showing poise under pressure at the point guard position.
Paolo Taha, Mark Romero and Jonathan Grey, who combined for 42 points an outing in the first round, will spearhead the Blazers even as the Generals hope to finally put together a winning streak after a lackluster first round.
The Knights will be looking to start their uphill climb from the bottom half of the standings. Still on a high after their stunning 64-53 win over San Beda, the Knights are targeting their fourth win in 10 games. Cedelf P. Tupas