UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta and College of Saint Benilde dispute the remaining Final Four slot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors’ basketball play-in stage on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The winner of the 3 p.m. match will face defending champion and top-ranked Letran in the Final Four on Sunday.
The other semifinal pairing pits No. 2 Mapua against No. 3 San Beda.
Head coach Charles Tiu said that the Blazers need to elevate their level of play if they want to repeat over the Altas, who they defeated, 83-73, last April 9,
“They’re on a roll playing with a lot of confidence. Lots of individual talent there,” Tiu said of the Altas. “It’s going to be a challenge defending them in this game. And the elimination game means nothing now.”
Kim Aurin was sensational of late as the 6-foot-2 forward bailed the Altas in the their last two games.
Mark Omega has also been solid for Perpetual, while Jielo Razon and Lean Martel are also producing their usual numbers.
Saint Benilde’s top guns Will Gozum and Robi Nayve need to leave their offensive struggles behind. They combined for 5 of 27 in their 57-63 loss to the Red Lions last Sunday.
The Blazers could also count on Miggy Corteza, who fired a career-high 24 points in their elimination round conquest of the Altas.
The Blazers haven’t been in the Final Four since 2002. The Altas, on the other hand, are determined to return to the semifinals after missing the bus in 2019.