Host Jose Rizal University will look to book its second straight win while San Beda University and Mapua University will hope to sustain their hot start when the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament continues on Friday.
JRU will take on a very familiar foe in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde at 2 p.m. while San Beda and Mapua lock horns at 4 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Heavy Bombers are coming off a huge morale-boosting victory against no less than defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Sunday, where the veteran duo of Agem Miranda and Marwin Dionisio presided over the win.
Miranda and Dionisio churned out 17 points apiece with the latter sparking off the bench with nine rebounds, two steals, and an assist as JRU made it two wins in a row against the Knights dating back to last season.
But the ride doesn't get smoother for the wards of coach Louie Gonzales.
They will be up against a Benilde side who is eager to bounce back after a loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University also last Sunday.
The Blazers will welcome back reigning MVP Will Gozum, who sat out the previous game due to a one-game suspension he incurred from an ejection last season.
Meanwhile, San Beda and Mapua, both of whom ran away with wins in their opening games, look to make it back-to-back victories at the expense of the other.
The Red Lions kicked off their redemption bid with a statement 85-61 thrashing of Arellano University with third year Jacob Cortez showing the way. Cortez, who usually came off the bench in the last two seasons, starred with 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, dealt San Sebastian College-Recoletos an 80-70 loss as team captain and veteran bruiser Warren Bonifacio took charge.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
