Stags shoot for NCAA Final 4 slot vs Bombers

San Sebastian shoots for a fourth straight Final Four appearance today when it clashes with skidding Jose Rizal U in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A victory by the Stags in the 6 p.m. clash will leave the Bombers, Letran Knights and the Perpetual Help Altas to fight it out for the last two postseason berths.

Defending champion San Beda had earlier clinched a Final Four berth and assured itself of a playoff for the top seed after crushing Mapua, 63-41, Tuesday at Subic Gym.

The Stags will be trying to follow suit as they look to repeat their first round demolition of the Bombers, 101-73, last July 14.

“We can’t take JRU lightly because they also need an important win,” said San Sebastian coach Allan Trinidad, whose Stags have a tough grind ahead with games against Perpetual Help and San Beda coming in the next two weeks.

A win by the Bombers would keep them in the thick of the fight for a Final Four berth, but another loss could doom their chances of making the postseason for the sixth straight season.

Arellano and Lyceum collide in the first game at 4 p.m. in a battle of teams already out of the running for a Final Four berth.

Struggling in their last few games, San Sebastian’s Ronald Pascual and Nate Matute of JRU are hoping to find their range this time.

Pascual has hit just three of his 22 shots from beyond the arc in the last two games, while Matute was held to just a point in the loss to San Beda.

With Pascual struggling, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang have been consistent in delivering big plays for the Stags.