Blazers, Bombers try to stay joint 3rd

College of St. Benilde and Jose Rizal University try to keep their tie for third place when they battle separate struggling foes today in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Blazers, drawing big games from Mark Romero and Paolo Taha in their last two outings, are favored over the Letran Knights at 4 p.m. while the Heavy Bombers should have no trouble with the San Sebastian Stags at 2 p.m.

With four games left, St. Benilde and JRU share the No. 3 spot with identical 9-5 records and eye two of the last three available tickets in the Final Four.

Defending champion San Beda College (13-2) has already clinched the first semifinal slot after tearing the Lyceum Pirates apart, 76-60, on Wednesday.

The Arellano Chiefs rank second at 11-4 after a recent 105-88 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

“We beat Letran in the first round, but it was tough,’’ said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco of the Knights who at 6-8 still have a mathematical chance for the last Final Four slot.

“We expect a tougher game this time because Letran is also determined to be in Final Four like us,’’ said Velasco, whose Blazers dumped the Knights, 85-71, in the first round.

But even if the Knights win their next four games, they could only hope that Perpetual Help (8-6), Benilde and JRU don’t exceed the 10-win mark. The Bombers are expected to avenge their 88-81 loss to the Stags, who are in a 10-game slide.