Bombers eye playoff for Final 4 berth

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal U and St. Benildes take on separate ousted rivals today with the Heavy Bombers shooting for at least a playoff for a semifinal berth and the Blazers hoping to stay in the Final Four hunt in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

But expect the San Sebastian Stags to foil the Bombers’ bid to join the Perpetual Help Altas at third and the Mapua Cardinals to dampen the Blazers’ hopes for a playoff for the last semis seat in what has been a three-cornered fight for the last two Final Four spots.

Arellano U and San Beda have secured the first two slots in the next round with 13-4 and 13-5 records, respectively, with the Chiefs stunning the Red Lions with a 78-76 win last Saturday to seize the top spot.

The Bombers booked their 11th win against six losses after the Cardinals forfeited their game last Friday and another victory in their 4 p.m. duel with the Stags will assure JRU of a playoff a semis seat.

“We will go into this game with a do-or-die mentality,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, whose wards dropped an 81-88 decision to the Stags in the first round.

The Blazers, meanwhile, are hard-pressed to sweep their last two games, including their 2 p.m. clash with the Cardinals to stay in the race. Their last assignment is against the Letran Knights on Wednesday.

“We need to sweep our last two games to have a chance to make it to the Final Four, that’s the bottomline,” said St. Benilde mentor Gabby Velasco.

After forfeiting its last two games due to lack of personnel, Mapua will return to action with Justin Serrano, James Galoso, Exeqiel Biteng and Andrew Estrella re-joining the squad following two-game suspensions.