Blazers, Heavy Bombers clash again in NCAA S99

Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
2 p.m. — AU vs UPHSD
4 p.m. — JRU vs CSB

COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) and Jose Rizal University (JRU) will try to keep their tempers checked as the two budding rivals face anew today in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The Blazers showed more composure in their 93-85 overtime victory over the Heavy Bombers in their first-round duel last Sept. 29 in a game where they nearly came to blows.

Good thing they hadn’t as it would have repeated the infamous game a season ago that involved John Amores.

The same game also resulted in league commissioner Tonichi Pujante downgrading an unsportsmanlike foul assessed on JRU’s pro-bound guard JL delos Santos that led to his ejection.

The three game officials who called that match were then sacked for two weeks.

And at 4 p.m. when the Blazers, who are tied with the San Beda University Red Lions at No. 3 with 8-4 marks, and the Heavy Bombers, alone at No. 5 with an 8-5 card, face off again, they would need to be composed and disciplined to get the win. For CSB bench tactician Charles Tiu, laser-like focus will be essential. “Big game for us, playoff game for both of us basically,” said Mr. Tiu. “They’re a good team and execute well. Hopefully we can find ways to slow them down.”

University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD), meanwhile, try to keep its drowning Final Four campaign afloat as it tackles an already ousted Arellano University or AU (2-10) at 2 p.m. The Altas fed off the arrival of newly minted assistant Scottie Thompson, an alumnus, former league Most Valuable Player and PBA and Gilas star, in their 72-61 triumph over the Heavy Bombers Sunday that hiked its record to 5-7. — Joey Villar