Bombers try to fuel semis drive vs Generals

Games today 2 p.m. – EAC vs JRU (Srs) 4 p.m. – Arellano vs Letran (Srs)

Jose Rizal University steps up its Final Four drive as it takes on Emilio Aguinaldo College today while Letran and Arellano try to boost their own semis bid in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. The Bombers toppled the Knights last week to firm up their hold of third spot at 7-4 with the Kalentong-based squad all-fired up to duplicate their 77-48 romp over the Generals in their 2 p.m. encounter.

The Knights, in joint fifth with the San Sebastian Stags and the Generals at 5-6, and the Chiefs down at eighth with a 4-7 card, tangle in a crucial match at 4 p.m.

Unbeaten Lyceum preserved its unbeaten slate by surviving Arellano last week, zeroing in on the first semis slot with a 12-0. Defending champion San Beda remains within striking distance at 11-1.

While Teytey Teodoro is tipped to lead JRU’s charge with a 14.8-point norm, the Bombers will again bank on their vaunted defense in a bid to repeat over the Generals.

The Bombers have held their rivals to an average of 67.6 points aside from dominating the boards with norm of 46.1 caroms a game.

“We’re winning because of that (defense), so we have to put more emphasis to our defense again,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, who boasts of imports Abdul Poutouochi and AbdulWahab AbdulRazak.

But the Generals are also going flat out for redemption and a boost to their semifinal hopes.