JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY seeks to keep its hold of the third spot while Letran tries to catch up as it clings to its place inside the magic four when the two squads collide today in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Heavy Bombers have held on to No. 3 with a 6-5 (win-loss) record despite absorbing a heartbreaking 109-115 double overtime defeat to the Arellano University Chiefs last week while the Knights have barely kept their hold on the number 4 slot following an 82-88 defeat at the hands of the Perpetual Help Altas Friday for a 5-5 mark.
A win for Jose Rizal would allow it to keep its current ranking while at the same time cut into the wide lead of pace-setting Lyceum of the Philippine University (11-0) and second-running San Beda (10-1). A loss for the Bombers would allow Letran to grab a share of third place.
Game time is at 2 p.m.
Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses admitted the loss to the Chiefs was a hard pill to swallo but said they have to move on.
“There were some breaks late in the game that didn’t go our way,” said Meneses. “But we should move on because this is a long tournament and we couldn’t afford to dwell too much on the past.”
Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College aims to come out of a three-way logjam at No. 6 with Perpetual Help and Arellano University as it faces off with league doormat Mapua U at 4 p.m.
The Generals fell to the Stags, 69-81, in their last outing Friday and should be eager to bounce back strong while the Cardinals, who have dropped 10 of their first 11 assignments, try to salvage some measure of pride and come up with a respectable finish.
Games today (Sept. 14)
(Filoil Arena, San Juan)
12 noon- JRU vs Letran (jrs)
2 p.m.- JRU vs Letran (srs)
4 p.m.- Mapua U vs EAC (srs)
6:30 p.m.- Mapua vs EAC (jrs)