Games on Thursday
(Filoil Centre)
10 a.m. – EAC vs CSB (Jrs)
Noon – Letran vs JRU (Jrs)
3 p.m. – EAC vs CSB (Srs)
5 p.m. – Letran vs JRU (Srs)
THE Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers are living up to the hype.
The founding member of the grand old league hopes to sustain its strong start as it tries to stay atop Group A and faces off with a Titing Manalili-less Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Thursday in NCAA Season 102 at the Filoil Centre.
Coming into the tournament as a team to beat after ruling strong pre-season tournaments, JRU has been good as advertised in winning six of its first seven outings including last Monday’s 84-74 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) and joining College of St. Benilde (CSB) at the helm of their bracket.
The CSB Blazers would like to stay abreast with the Heavy Bombers as they shoot for a triumph over EAC (2-5) at 3 p.m.
The Kalentong-based dribblers should come in as favorites versus the Letran Knights, last year’s runners-up, but would have to make do minus their best player in Mr. Manalili in their 5 p.m. showdown.
The talented Mr. Manalili will reportedly be out until next month after spraining his right knee late in Letran’s win over Lyceum of the Philippines University last Friday.
He escaped a major injury after tests but would still miss some games including this one.
It will be the second time that Mr. Manalili will be sidelined after getting a one-game rest due to wrist issues.
Minus Mr. Manalili, the Knights succumbed to the Mapúa University Cardinals, 67-69, in overtime also last Monday that sent them sliding down second in Group B with a 4-3 mark.
A win though would catapult them back to the helm alongside the Arellano University Chiefs (5-3). — Joey Villar