MANILA, Philippines–JOSE RIZAL U presses its bid for the twice-to-beat incentive when it tangles with St. Benilde today in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Already in the Final Four, the Bombers, seeking their first title since 1972, are fancied to prevail over the Blazers in the 2 p.m. duel and boost their third-running record to 10-3.
San Sebastian is two full games ahead of JRU at 11-1 with San Beda a cinch to capture the first twice-to-beat incentive with a spotless 12-0 record.
“We still want that twice-to-beat advantage,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, after the Bombers subdued the Arellano Chiefs, 76-73, Monday.
The Chiefs, still in the hunt for the last Final Four berth despite the loss, and out-of-it Emilio Aguinaldo College collide in the second game at 4 p.m.
A win by the Chiefs today will allow them to close in on the Mapua Cardinals, who still have the inside track for the last semifinal slot with a 7-5 slate.
Arellano is expected to lean on Adrian Celada, who sizzled with 30 points in a losing effort to the Bombers, and the burly Jherald Lapuz, one of the shortest centers in the league at 6-foot-1.
John Nchotu Njei, the unlikely hero in the game against Arellano, hopes to continue his solid form against the Blazers after getting relegated to the bench for most of the tournament.
“I hope he continues to prove that he deserves to be in the team,” said Meneses of Njei, whom he benched for several games due to “disciplinary reasons.”