NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Seniors                       W       L        Pct
x-San Sebastian       13       0       1.000
x-San Beda                13       1         .928
y-Jose Rizal               11       2         .846
Letran                          10      4          .714
Arellano                        7       7          .500
St. Benilde                   4        9          .307
EAC                               4       10        .285
Perpetual Help            3       10        .230
Mapua                           1       12        .077
AUF                                1       12        .077

x — Clinched Final 4 berth

Games on Friday (The Arena)
10 a.m. — Perpetual Help vs Mapua (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — Jose Rizal vs Letran (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Perpetual Help vs Mapua (Srs)
4 p.m. — Jose Rizal vs Letran (Srs)

Jose Rizal University, out to end a long 37-year title drought, tries to make a big stride towards achieving that goal as it goes for the third semifinal slot against Letran on Friday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Heavy Bombers tackle the Knights at 4 p.m. with the hope of clinching win No. 12 – a magic number that will allow them to join league leader San Sebastian and defending champion San Beda in the semifinals.

But achieving the objective won’t be a walk in the park for the Bombers as the fourth-running Knights are equally determined to win all their remaining four games to pull away from Arellano, their closest pursuer for the last semis berth.

Also-rans Perpetual and Mapua, meanwhile, clash in the opener at 2 p.m. with both teams hoping to land in respectable finishes.

The Altas have already surpassed their dismal 2-12 record last season with a 3-10 card for eighth spot, but could still improve their record with still five games left.

The Cardinals, who have yielded almost all their 13 games by 10 points or less, hope to score their second win.

The first and second semis berths have already been secured by the SSC and SBC after the Lions and the Stags trounced their respective foes in the last two playing dates.