Perpetual, JRU eye s’final slots
Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U fight for their Final Four lives when they take on separate rivals today in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Altas play their final game of what has been an impressive season under coach Aric del Rosario against the struggling San Sebastian Stags at 6 p.m.
Perpetual Help is also keeping a close eye on the JRU-Emilio Aguinaldo College match at 4 p.m., which could also determine its Final Four fate.
The scenario is complicated for both the Altas and the Bombers. If the Bombers prevail, they will be assured of a playoff for a Final Four berth regardless of the result of the second game.
But if JRU wins and Perpetual Help loses to San Sebastian, the Bombers will make the Final Four, while the Altas will be eliminated despite enjoying their first winning season since 2004.
A victory by the Altas will also assure them of a playoff for a Final Four berth. But if JRU loses and Perpetual wins, the semifinal cast will be complete with Letran and San Sebastian joining San Beda in the mix.
The Stags are coming off back-to-back losses to Letran and JRU, which hurt their chances of gaining an outright Final Four slot.
Now, the Stags are also staring at the possibility of falling into a four-team tie for the three remaining Final Four berths.
Calvin Abueva sparkled in the loss to the Bombers with a 26-point, 20-rebound effort, but Ronald Pascual’s struggles continued as he was limited to just five points.
Pascual has actually averaged just 6 points per outing in the last three games, going 3-of-33 from beyond the arc.
The Altas also have a reliable scorer in Jett Vidal, whose 20-point effort against San Beda wasn’t enough to prevent Perpetual from losing, 53-60.
With Nate Matute groping for form, the Bombers hope to draw another big game from Byron Villarias, who exploded for 28 points against the Stags.
The Generals will have Cameroonian center Noube Happi, a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year honors, to carry the fight. Cedelf P. Tupas
