Blazers, Altas collide in vital ‘NC’ tiff Wednesday

It’s A clash that could define their respective campaigns in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament.

St. Benilde and Perpetual Help collide Wednesday in a crucial showdown that may determine their respective Final Four aspirations at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Blazers are in third spot with a 10-5 record and another win in the 4 p.m. showdown could put one foot in the Final Four with two games remaining in their schedule.

But the Altas are also motivated to prevail with their Final Four hopes hanging in the balance. Tied at fourth with Jose Rizal with a 10-6 record, the Altas can no longer afford to drop games with the Bombers facing lightweight foes in their last two games.

“It’s a must-win situation for us,” said Altas coach Aric del Rosario in Filipino. “Everyone has to step up.”

The Final Four race is as tight as ever with only defending champion San Beda assured of a place in the postseason and a four-team tie for the last three slots still possible.
A Perpetual Help victory could actually hand the Lions the first twice-to-beat edge.

But the vastly improved Blazers can avoid complications—and gain a shot at a twice-to-beat edge—by sweeping their last three games starting with the clash against the Altas.

“For now, we want to take it one game at a time,” said Blazers coach Gabby Velasco. “The Final Four is our goal, but if we could also get a chance at that twice-to-beat edge.”

That could only happen if San Beda loses to Arellano on Saturday and the Blazers sweep their last three games.

St. Benilde pulled the rug from under JRU, 71-69, last week, with the trio of Paolo Taha, Luis Sinco and Mark Romero delivering the telling blows in the final quarter.

Perpetual Help shocked San Beda, 79-78, last Sept. 22 and won via forfeiture over Emilio Aguinaldo College last Friday.