College of Saint Benilde seeks to regain its winning ways against Jose Rizal University Sunday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Blazers seek to regain the top spot in the 12 noon duel with the Bombers. San Beda and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta collide to cap in an interesting doubleheader at 3 p.m.
Sporting a 3-1 record along with co-leader Lyceum of the Philippines University, Benilde is just a game ahead of joint fifth placers JRU, San Beda, Perpetual and idle San Sebastian, which all have 2-2 slates.
The Blazers are wary of the Bombers, who have won two in a row after back-to-back defeats.
Benilde eyes to rebound from last Friday’s 75-81 loss to defending champion Letran.
Banking on Ry dela Rosa’s clutch triple, JRU nipped Arellano, 70-67, last Wednesday.
Having already surpassed their one-win output last season, coach Louie Gonzalez knows that the Bombers still has something to show to contend for the Final Four.
“We are unconscious about it. For us, ang gusto lang is to get better as the season progresses na alam ko kulang pa kami sa kondisyon, hindi pa buo ang rotation namin. Alam ko may madi-dig deep sa mga players ko,” said Gonzalez.
The Lions and the Altas are coming off morale-boosting victories heading into their match-up.
San Beda pulled off a 78-71 win over San Sebastian last Wednesday, while Perpetual nipped Mapua, 79-77, to halt a two-game slide last Friday.
For coach Yuri Escueta, having a winning attitude – which starts in training – is the key for the Red Lions to end the win-loss-win-loss trend to open the season.
“That attitude is what you bring in towards the game,” said Escueta.
Finally getting over the hump after the narrow win over the Cardinals, coach Myk Saguiguit hopes that his Altas will muster enough strength in their second game in three days.
“Masyadong hectic ang schedule namin. Siyempre, gusto naming manalo against San Beda. We will gonna try our luck. Subukan naming makipag-compete sa kanila para maging masaya ang Season 98 namin,” said Saguiguit, who steered Perpetual to a improbable Final Four run last season.