Semis bidders Perpetual, JRU face off today

Final Four contenders Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U break their third place tie when they square off today in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with the winner improving to 9-4 while taking the inside track in the Final Four race, which is expected to go down the wire this season.

Mapua tries to carry the momentum of only its second win of the season as it battles Lyceum at 2 p.m.

The Cardinals are coming off a thrilling 75-73 win over the San Sebastian Stags last Friday. And although they are not mathematically out of the Final Four race, the Cardinals’ prospects of advancing are very slim.

The game is more important for the Pirates, who, at 5-7, could still mount a late assault for a postseason berth.

But the Pirates have yet to make an impact in the second round, losing three straight games that dropped them to a tie for sixth spot with the Letran Knights.

The spotlight will be on the Altas-Bombers match, which could determine the team that takes one of the four spots in the playoffs.

Altas coach Aric del Rosario hopes Perpetual Help’s vaunted trio of Harold Arboleda, Juneric Baloria and Earl Thompson would stay consistent even after their terrific performance in the 101-86 win over Arellano last Monday.

Arboleda fired a season high 28 points, Baloria finished with 26.