Blazers resume backdoor bid for Final Four vs Dolphins

St. Benilde tries to keep the momentum of its big victory over Jose Rizal College last Monday and keep its backdoor bid in the Final Four alive as it plays Philippine Christian University today in the 79th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

"I’m not going to put pressure on ourselves by thinking of a sweep (of the second round) for us to still make it into the Final Four," said St. Benilde coach Tonichi Yturri.

A year after emerging a surprise runner-up to the San Sebastian Stags, the Blazers lost all their games in this year’s first round elims but came through with a big game last Monday to defuse the fancied Heavy Bombers, 90-69.

"We know in our hearts that it’s still possible but we’re going to take it a step at a time," Yturri added.

The match is set at 4 p.m.

Expect the Blazers to rely anew on a solid team effort anchored on the talented frontline tandem of Al Magpayo and Ronald Capati, who are also members of the Cebuana Lhuillier Nationals who are set to compete in the ABC in September and the Southeast Asian Games in December this year.

With Magpayo and Capati frolicking in the shaded area, the Blazers had a surprisingly easy time against the Bombers although the two drew solid support from rookies Gilbert Sanidad, Juan Luis Eliseo Abad III and Gilbert Good.

Jose Rizal, on the other hand, hopes to bounce back from that setback as it clashes with a skidding Perpetual Help at 2 p.m.

The Bombers are currently tied with the Mapua Cardinals at third place with 5-3 records, a rung behind the San Beda Red Lions and the Letran Knights who share the lead with 6-2 cards.

The Altas, for their part, are reeling from six straight losses in eight games including a 56-60 defeat to the Knights last Wednesday.