Desire key factor in SSC-JRU ‘rubber’

It will be a question of desire as Jose Rizal and San Sebastian dispute the 77th NCAA men’s basketball crown in a winner-take-all match before another expected overflow crowd at the Rizal Coliseum.

The Heavy Bombers have the momentum following a 95-81 rout of the Stags Saturday that sent their best-of-three series to a deciding game. But the Recoletos-based squad, which took the opener, 77-74, is raring to get back at its rival with a promise of playing with more resolve and committing fewer errors.

"The best thing to do is to stop their shooters and control the boards. But we must also play more consistently on both ends and reduce our errors," said San Sebastian coach Turo Valenzona.

He was referring to the Stags’ glaring 24 turnovers, which slowed down the former five-peat champions and which the Bombers translated into 31 big points that anchored their runaway victory.

Gametime is at 3:30 p.m.

Jose Rizal is out to end a near three-decade-long title drought in the league and this desire to finally give the school its first-ever crown since the Philip Cezar-led team ruled in 1972 is expected to further fire up the Bombers.

But the Stags want to relive their glory days in the league, highlighted by a stirring five-peat in 1997, although Valenzuela, author of that feat, hinted at a down-to-the-wire finish in their do-or-die encounter.

"They say the Bombers are hungrier for the title, but we also want to win this one. Every step, every possession is important so we expect Game Three to go down-to-the-wire," Valenzona added.

"For sure, babawi ang San Sebastian. But we will be ready for the challenge. Gumawa kami ng adjustments to further strengthen our game defensively and offensively," De Vera said. — Joey Villar