Altas, Bombers dispute last semifinal slot
GAMES TODAY (Filoil Flying V Arena)
4 p.m.—CSB-LSGH vs Letran (Jrs)
6 p.m.—Perpetual Help vs JRU (Srs)
ON THE heels of inconsistent second-round campaigns, Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U dispute the last Final Four spot today in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Gametime is at 6 p.m. with the Altas, who flashed tremendous improvement from last season, shooting for their first Final Four appearance since they reached the finals in 2004.
The Bombers, still in search of a first crown since 1972, are hoping to return to familiar territory which they have reached in the last five seasons dating back to Season 83.
The winner of the playoff faces top seed San Beda, which owns a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing the elimination-round with a 16-2 card.
The Altas and Bombers split their first two meetings this season with JRU drawing first blood with a 64-59 win in the first round, before Perpetual Help hit back with an 88-72 shellacking in round two.
Perpetual looked a lock to clinch a Final Four berth after ending the first round with a 6-3 mark, but a string of lethargic performances put the Altas in danger of missing a postseason berth.
JRU also started the season on a high note before skidding in the second round, where it has won just three of its nine games to finish with a 10-8 card just like the Altas.
San Sebastian and Letran will meet in the other Final Four pairing with the Stags armed with a twice-to-beat edge for finishing second at the end of the elimination round.
La Salle Greenhills and Letran collide for the No. 3 seed in the juniors’ division at 4 p.m. The winner will advance against the San Sebastian Staglets, who will have a twice-to-beat advantage with the survivor facing top seed and defending champion San Beda for the crown.
The game could be the last for seniors like Jett Vidal and George Allen of Perpetual Help and Nate Matute and John Lopez of JRU.
Vidal is the Altas’ leading scorer with close to 19 points per outing.
