Bombers, Lions face lightweights today

Pacesetters San Beda and Jose Rizal hope to fashion out victories over separate lightweight opponents as the second round of the 79th NCAA basketball tournament gets underway today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Tied on top of the heap with the idle Letran Knights on 5-2 slates, the Red Lions face the Philippine Christian University Dolphins at 1:15 p.m. while the Bombers clash with the winless St. Benilde Blazers at 4:45 p.m.

Focus, however, will be on the streaking Red Lions, who are seeking to extend their amazing run to five in a bid to build up enough confidence in time for the crucial Final Four phase.

Ranged against a team struggling with a 3-4 (win-loss) card, San Beda coach Jonathan Reyes wants nothing but a victory and he underscores this by reminding his wards the need to play tough defense.

"From the start, our philosophy has been focused on defense because it’s from there that we get our running game going," said Reyes.

Aside from defense, Reyes has been drawing impressive offensive games from both his veterans and rookies.

There are skipper Arjun Cordero, Jerome Paterno and Jeff Bombeo, who have provided the leadership, strength and firepower to a team which finished second to the last with a woeful 2-12 slate last season.

The rookies are equally doing pretty well with Ronnie Bughao, Mark Apepe, Francis Cruz, Tim Ong and Michael Casino playing heads-up games in the first round. Casino, however, will not see action today after he was slapped a one-game suspension for figuring in an altercation with Mapua’s Nat Cruz.

Although San Beda appears unstoppable at the moment, PCU is expected to give it a tough time.

With a brief respite and a mouthful of sermons from former Olympian and coach Jimmy Mariano, the Dolphins are expected to bounce back from a 72-84 loss to the Knights and improve on their atrocious 24-of-58 free throw clip in that game.

"There is still a chance for us to make it into the Final Four again," said Mariano. "But we have to return to the basics again and that includes making free throws."