JOSE Rizal University (JRU) tries to avoid the slump as it tussles with battle-tested Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 92 seniors basketball tournament on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Game starts at 2 p.m. as the low-flying Heavy Bombers hope to break the tie with the Generals at 1-3 won-loss record, a feat far from its last season’s decent start that led to a Final Four stint only to be defused by runner-up San Beda College.
With its lone win coming from its blowout 86-56 victory to College of Saint Benilde last week, JRU was denied of back-to-back wins when Lyceum gave them a heartbreaking 66-69 setback six days ago courtesy of the monster 24-point, 21-rebound production of Pirates import Mike Nzeusseu.
“We’re not playing with heart,” Heavy Bombers Head Coach Vergel Meneses said.
JRU will rely on main men Tey Teodoro, Paolo Pontejos, Jordan de la Paz and the Cameroonian duo of Abdel Poutouochi and Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab.
On the other hand, the Generals almost got an upset by giving erstwhile league leader Mapùa a 67-70 scare last week.
EAC capitalized on the absence of reigning Most Valuable Player Allwell Oraeme, as 6-foot-10 center Hamadou Laminou, Sydney Onwubere, Francis Munsayac and Remy Morada played solidly but fell short to the more composed Cardinals side.
“We have games that we had a chance to win but we blew our opportunities,” EAC Head Coach Ariel Sison said.
In the 4 p.m. match, Lyceum aims for its second win in the tournament as it tangles with listless Blazers.
The Pirates will still parade the reliable Nzeusseu, Aldrian Alban and Wilson Baltazar, while the Blazers have Clement Leutcheu, Christian Fajarito and Carlo Young.