Jose Rizal University will gun for its third consecutive win and fourth overall when it collides with University of Perpetual Help System DALTA while De La Salle-College and San Sebastian College-Recoletos will look to bounce back on Saturday in the NCAA Season 99.
JRU and Perpetual will square off at 9:30 a.m. while Benilde and San Sebastian tangle at 3 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Heavy Bombers are coming off back-to-back wins against Mapua University and Emilio Aguinaldo College with both games seeing veteran Agem Miranda taking charge. He is averaging 20.75 points on top of 4.0 rebounds, 3.25 assists, 2.25 steals, and 0.75 blocks.
He is expected to lead anew against the ALTAs, who are also coming off an 85-66 win against Arellano University with young guns Cyrus Nitura and Mark Omega leading the charge for their first win of the season at 1-2.
JRU head coach Louie Gonzales lauded the maturity of Miranda, but he's hoping to see more improvements from his main gunner as they look to make it to the Final Four.
"Kay Agem right now, it’s the maturity. I just need to control him sometimes because he gets out of sync sometimes and his performance, result ‘yun ng ginawa ng kabuuan," Gonzales said.
"If you notice every game, even if na marked man na siya, he still gets his shots and ‘yung playing time niya ando’n pa rin."
(With Agem right now, it's maturity. I just need to control him sometimes because he gets out of sync sometimes and his performance is a result of everyone's efforts. If you notice every game, even if he's a marked man, he still gets his shots and the playing time is still there.)
In the second game, Benilde and San Sebastian are looking to pick up the pieces after losing in their previous outings.
The Blazers are coming off a 75-71 loss to Mapua as Paolo Hernandez starred late for the Cardinals to deal Benilde its third loss of the season. The Stags, on the other hand, fell to Lyceum of the Philippines University for their second defeat.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
