Games today: (Filoil Flying V Arena)

8:00 a.m. – SSC-R vs Letran (jrs)
10:00 a.m. – EAC vs JRU (jrs)
11:45 a.m. – EAC vs JRU (srs)
2:00 p.m. – LPU vs CSB (jrs)
4:00 p.m. – LPU vs CSB (srs)


JOSE Rizal University primes up for the coming NCAA men’s basketball Final Four as it takes on also-ran Emilio Aguinaldo College in the penultimate playing day of the league today at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

On a roll with behind their five-game winning streak, the Heavy Bombers seek to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season in the duel set at 11:45 a.m.

Jose Rizal (8-9) claimed the last semifinals berth by booting Mapua out of contention last week with a 78-64 victory.

A month ago, the Heavy Bombers look like goners with a 3-9 (win-loss) record and in danger of ending their streak of four consecutive Final Four appearances.

But thanks to the head up plays of Jeckster Apinan, Nate Matute, John Lopez, Raycon Kabigting, Alex Almario and rookie Bryon Villarias, the Bombers regrouped just in time to make the semis for the fifth consecutive season.

“We wanted to end the eliminations on a winning note,” said Heavy Bombers coach Vergel Meneses.

As the No. 4 seed, Jose Rizal will face either league-leader San Sebastian or defending champion San Beda.

The Stags (16-1) and Red Lions (15-2) slug it out on the final day of the elims on Wednesday in a match which has a big implication for the No. 1 and 2 rankings in the post-season.

A win by San Sebastian would assure itself of the top seed in the Final Four, but a San Beda victory would force a playoff for the No. 1 and 2 seedings, respectively.

Guest team Lyceum and College of Saint Benilde, both with 6-11 records, round up their season in the day’s other game at 4 p.m.