Blazers go for 3rd win vs Cards

Defending champion St. Benilde takes on second-running Mapua today while a slumping Perpetual Help goes up against tailender San Beda as the race for the Final Four in the 77th NCAA men’s basketball tournament heats up at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

St. Benilde, slowly inching its way back into contention after losing five straight games, will carry a two-game win run when it meets Mapua in the first seniors match at 2 p.m. Perpetual, which has lost its first three games in the second round, faces San Beda at 5:30 p.m.

The Blazers, who won the title over the San Sebastian Stags last year, closed out the first round with five straight losses but bounced back with victories over the Stags, 72-71, and the Atlas last Sunday, 76-63.

But against the Cardinals, the Blazers are expected to undergo some rough sailing considering their 60-66 setback in the first round. Mapua is on a big roll, winning six of its last seven games, the last against San Beda, 68-66.

Perpetual, on the other hand, will try to snap a winless streak in the second round at the expense of San Beda, down the cellar and out of contention with a woeful 1-8 record. The Red Lions won their first game against Philippine Christian University before taking a slide.

A third straight win by St. Benilde will push coach Dong Vergeire’s charges to solo fourth behind unbeaten leader Jose Rizal University (9-0), Mapua and San Sebastian, tied at 6-3. JRU, already assured of a Final Four slot, can actually clinch the first finals berth if it goes on to post a 14-0 sweep.

Under that scenario, the second best team takes a bye and will meet the winner of a one-game playoff between the No. 3 and 4 squads for the right to face the Heavy Bombers in the best-of-three finals.