Jose Rizal University tries to keep the ball rolling in the second round of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament after almost two weeks of missing action when it takes on San Sebastian on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The well-rejuvenated Heavy Bombers seek to zoom to their sixth straight win of the season as two of their first-round games were postponed and mixed up to the next half of the tournament.
Tipoff is set at 12 p.m. between JRU and San Sebastian while the defending champion and streaking Letran faces Arellano in their 3 p.m. encounter.
The likes of Marwin Dionisio, Joshua Guiab, John Amores, and Agem Miranda, who once dropped 21 points and three assists against San Beda last Oct. 4, are out to prove once more that they belong to the top of the leaderboard.
JRU currently holds a 5-2 record, having been the only squad to miss the remaining two games initially slated for the first round.
The game against the Stags, who own a 3-5 slate, would technically serve as a first-round matchup before officially battling each other in the second offering on Nov. 11.
It would be a test of time and consistency for the Bombers though as they last saw action with a 63-57 win against the Lyceum Pirates on Oct. 7
San Sebastian, for its part, finally broke from its slump and snapped its four-game skid with a 78-61 routing of Emilio Aguinaldo College last Oct. 14.
A mix of pesky defense and balanced attack from the likes of Alex Desoyo, Jessie Sumoda, Itchie Altamirano, and Rhinwil Yambing is what the Stags needed to slow down the determined Bombers.
Meanwhile in the second match, the Knights, who have a 7-3 record, march on and put their four-game win streak on the line against the struggling Chiefs, who sustained a 4-5 slate.
Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, and King Caralipio continue to carry the cudgels for Letran with the veteran support and presence of former Finals Most Valuable Player Fran Yu.
But Letran is yet to solve the puzzle that is Arellano as it suffered a 72-69 upset loss in their first showdown last September.
Cade Flores, Axel Doromal, Shane Menina is expected to lead the Chiefs anew while Wilmar Oftana and Joshua Abastillas are out to provide their support for their established trio.