Blazers put 5-0 card on the block

St. Benilde tries to preserve its unbeaten record while Philippine Christian University hopes to stay within striking distance with the Blazers when they face different foes today in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Unbeaten in five games, the Blazers, the 2000 champions, will be heavily favored in the 4 p.m. match against the San Beda Red Lions while the Dolphins try to enhance its own bid with a win over the University of Perpetual Help of Rizal Altas at 2 p.m.

Expect St. Benilde to rely anew on the prolific Sunday Salvacion, who has scored a total of 62 points in the Blazers’ last two games. He had 25 points last Friday in an 82-50 victory over Perpetual Help.

San Beda, for its part, will pin its hopes on Arjun Cordero and Jeff Bombeo. The Red Lions are still winless in five games.

"We expect them to pay more attention to Sunday but it’s nothing to be alarmed about because we have some players who can step up when needed," said St. Benilde coach Dong Vergeire.

Like the Blazers, the Dolphins are also on a roll.

Led by PBL veteran Bernzon Franco’s 28 points and 14 rebounds, PCU, coached by former Olympian Jimmy Mariano, whacked San Beda, 88-69, last Monday to extend its own win streak to four and remain at second place with a 4-1 card.

Perpetual Help is the second worst team in the league so far with a 1-4 record.