Bombers eye target

Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City) 2 p.m. – EAC vs JRU (Srs) 4 p.m. – Arellano vs Letran (Srs)

The past continues to haunt Jose Rizal University star Teytey Teodoro. But he is determined to keep the lurking ghost in the rearview mirror.

JRU hopes to keep momentum from a recent victory going when it squares off with Emilio Aguinaldo College in NCAA basketball today at The Arena in San Juan City.

Carrying a 7-4 win-loss record, a victory for the Heavy Bombers will cement their hold of the No. 3 spot behind the unbeaten Lyceum Pirates (12-0) and defending champion San Beda Red Lions (11-1).

Teodoro, who has been spearheading JRU with his consistent performances, said they are still in grief over their heartbreaking overtime loss to Arellano U a week ago despite coming off a 77-68 victory over Letran last Thursday.

“Yung mga talo na ganun, mahirap talagang kalimutan. Pero nagfo-focus kami dun sa lesson na binigay nung talo na yon at ang importante, patuloy naming tinatrabaho yung mga laro namin,” said Teodoro, who is expected to provide significant numbers anew after averaging 14.8 points a game.

Defense will continue to be the Bombers’ main weapon, boasting of 46.1 boards a game while allowing their rivals to score an average of only 67.6 points.

“We’re winning because of that (defense), so we have to emphasize our defense again,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, who has his eyes on Abdul Poutouochi and AbdulWahab AbdulRazak to do the damage inside the paint.

But EAC is unfazed as it shoots for its sixth victory in 12 outings to untangle itself from a three-way logjam at fourth spot.

While the Bombers rely on defense, the Generals lean on their offense led by Sidney Onwubere, Francis Munsayac and Jerome Garcia, who combine for 40 points a game.

EAC, however, needs to be consistent particularly at crunch time where it lost steam in some of its defeats.

In the other game, last year’s runner-up Arellano clashes with Letran at 4 p.m. as both teams seek to bolster respective Final Four bids.

The Chiefs have been struggling with a 4-7 mark at eighth place, while the Knights are still inside the top 4 with their 5-6 record tied with the San Sebastian Stags and EAC Generals.