JRU, Mapua in NCAA KO Match

MANILA, Philippines — Before the start of the NCAA basketball tournament season, Jose Rizal University named a former star player who also made a name in the PBA as its new coach in the hopes of ending a long 37-year title drought.

Mapua has also evolved from a one-man team to a complete one as it looks for a breakout season after missing the Final Four last year.

This Wednesday, only one goal will remain as the Heavy Bombers and the Cardinals go for each other’s throat at the start of the stepladder semifinals of the 86th NCAA cage wars at The Arena in San Juan.

Game time is 4 p.m. with the third-ranked Bombers heavily favored to win owing to their winning record over the fourth-ranked Cardinals since last year.

The Bombers lead the Cardinals in their head-to-head encounter, 4-0, including two in the eliminations this season capped by a 68-54 rout on Sept. 29.

Despite their obvious advantage, JRU coach Vergel Meneses, who replaced Ariel Vanguardia after the school failed to make it to the finals last season, downplayed their chances.

“We are the underdog of this league. We we’re never rated as the 1, 2, or 3 team. But that motivates us to work harder,” said Meneses, seeking to steer his Mandaluyong based wards to their first title since 1973.

As in the elims, Meneses will bank on the team’s defense and energy to beat the Cardinals for the fifth straight time.

This Wednesday’s winner will earn the right to face San Sebastian College in another KO match on Friday at 4 p.m. in the same venue for the second finals berth.

The Stags finished second at the end of the eliminations with a 13-3 card to gain one of the two twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four.

But the defending champions lost the bonus after the league adopted a stepladder format in the semifinals in the wake of San Beda College’s historic feat.

The Red Lions swept the two-round elims (16-0) and gained an outright finals berth, leaving the three reaming squads in the semis to duel in the KO matches for the other championship berth.

Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin