Benilde, PCU go for ‘twice-to-beat’ edge

Philippine Christian University and St. Benilde shoot for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four as the two clash today in the final elimination round playdate in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Tied at second spot with 9-4 slates behind elims topnotcher and defending champion San Sebastian, the Dolphins and the Blazers collide at 4 p.m. seeking to clinch the important semifinal incentive in a preview of their Final 4 match-up.

PCU and St. Benilde will also cross paths in the next round with today’s winner getting the crucial twice-to-beat advantage.

The Stags, who ended their first round campaign with a league-best 11-3 record following a 101-82 bashing of Jose Rizal Wednesday, take on the Bombers in the other semis pairing.

The Dolphins, mentored by former Olympian Jimmy Mariano, seemed to have the advantage in terms of momentum following a huge 98-85 bashing of the Stags a week back while the Blazers are on an alarming three-game skid, the last at the hands of the Letran Knights, 80-85.

PCU is also the same team that snapped St. Benilde’s six-game streak in the first round via an 80-72 victory with PBL veteran Bernzon Franco delivering the crushing blows with a monster game.

Mariano, however, is not taking St. Benilde lightly. "You have to watch really hard if you play St. Benilde because everybody knows they are a difficult team to beat."

Aside from Franco, Mariano is expected to pin his hopes on Lot Soriano, Jojo Roque, Alwyn Ilagan, Rob Sanz and Leo Gaspi in the absence of starting forward Nelson Gatduala, who was sidelined for the rest of the season after fracturing a finger bone.

A barrier Mariano and the Dolphins needs to hurdle to beat the Blazers is prolific Sunday Salvacion, who once strung up 37 points in just 25 minutes.

Expecting Salvacion to be PCU’s main target, St. Benilde coach Dong Vergaire had prepared his gunners to step up should their star player get the harsh treatment.

"We know that everytime we play, Sunday was always banged up but we have other gunners to help him," said Vergaire, referring to Jan Coching, Titus Mendoza, Edward Castro, Loreto Tolentino, Ernie Sagad and Al Magpayo.

Meanwhile, San Beda and University of Perpetual Help of Rizal, each with a 1-12 record, try to end their campaign on a bright note as the two collide at 2 p.m.