Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
11 a.m. — Mapua
vs San Sebastian
2:30 p.m. — College of Saint Benilde vs JRU
College of Saint Benilde will look to tighten its grip on the second spot in Group B as it faces Jose Rizal University (JRU) Tuesday in Season 101 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Game time is at 2:30 p.m. as the Blazers seek back-to-back wins after their 80-74 victory over Letran College last Friday.
Ian Torres scored 15 points for Saint Benilde as they played without reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Allen Liwag, who is nursing a shoulder injury.
Even without Liwag, Blazers head coach Charles Tiu remains optimistic.
“Our target has been to get to the top. So we still need to control everything right now,” said Tiu, whose squad holds a 7-4 win-loss record.
Against a dangerous side like the Heavy Bombers, Tiu reminds his boys that they can’t underestimate them now with the preliminary round winding down.
“You can't take them for granted. They're a legit team,” Tiu said.
“Credit to their staff, they've developed them as well so we have to be ready to go to war.”
Meanwhile, defending champion Mapua University will face San Sebastian College at 11 a.m. to kick off the double -header.
Team captain Clint Escamis will be entering the game full of confidence after scoring 18 points in the Cardinals’ 77-61 victory over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta last Friday.
But all eyes will be on Saint Benilde whether or not it can clinch a twice-to-beat advantage.
A loss against JRU could complicate things for the Blazers as Letran College, which has a 7-5 slate, might snatch one of the top two spots in Group B.
Against the Bombers, the Blazers will have to watch out for Shawn Argente and Allan Laurenaria, who scored 12 points each in their 56-65 loss to San Beda University last Saturday.