Bombers to rally behind grieving ace, face Cards

Game today (MOA Arena, Pasay)

2 p.m. – La Salle-Greenhills vs Arellano (Jrs)

4 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Mapua (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines –  Jose Rizal U hopes to draw inner strength and courage from a grief-stricken mainstay as the Heavy Bombers battle the Mapua Cardinals for Final Four third seeding in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at the MOA Arena today.

The Bombers are reeling from the impact of a tragedy suffered by ace player Paolo Pontejos, who lost his father over the weekend as they go up against the Cardinals in the crucial contest.

“It’s unfortunate and we’re deeply saddened,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses on the sudden death of Joey Pontejos, Paolo’s dad, due to heart attack.

“It’s up to him (Pontejos) if he wants to play,” Meneses also said.

Pontejos has been among JRU’s key men, with the heady guard exploding for 23 points in their 91-69 rout of San Sebastian that assured their Final Four passage.

“He’s been playing really well,” said Meneses.

The Bombers and the Cardinals face off at 4 p.m. with the winner clinching the third seed and a Final Four showdown with No. 2 Letran. The loser ends up the No. 4 seed that will be up in a semis duel with No. 1 San Beda.

Jose Rizal wound up tied for third to fifth places with Mapua and Arellano U on 12-6 (win-loss) records. The Heavy Bombers automatically made the semis on a superior quotient.

The Cardinals clinched the last Final Four spot after they routed the Chiefs, 93-75, Tuesday at the MOA Arena.

“We don’t really think much of other teams because we’re focused on our game and how we would win,” said Mapua’s Josan Nimes, who scored 21 points in their win over Arellano.

“Our goal is to play in the Final Four coming off a victory regardless of which team we face,” said Meneses.

Nigerian Allwell Oraeme will be another player to watch after he came up with 13 points, 28 rebounds, six assists and three blocks versus the Arellano Chiefs.

“I just want to help my team win games,” said the 19-year-old Oraeme, tipped to become a rookie MVP this year, a feat previously done by Phl Christian U’s Gabby Espinas (2004) and San Beda’s Sam Ekwe (2006).

In juniors’ play, No. 4 La Salle-Greenhills and No. 3 Arellano U collide at 2 p.m. with the winner setting a showdown with No. 2 Mapua at the start of the stepladder semis.

Reigning six-peat champion San Beda automatically advanced to the finals by sweeping all its 18 elimination round games.

The Junior Blazers booked the fourth and last spot in the semis by routing the Lyceum of the Philippines U Junior Pirates, 88-71, largely behind Ricci Rivero’s career-high 40 points.