Games Friday (The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. — Letran vs Perpetual (Jrs)
12 noon — JRU vs Arellano (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Letran vs Perpetual (Srs)
4 p.m. — JRU vs Arellano (Srs)

Coach Vergel Meneses hopes to avoid another "rookie mistake" when the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers battle the Arellano Chiefs this Friday in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Bombers are coming off a 67-62 overtime win against Letran last Monday, and Meneses, a former PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner, believes they could have won the match in regulation had it not been for some lapses in the dying seconds.

JRU blew away a five-point-lead heading into the last 23 seconds of regulation, allowing Letran to forge the overtime. Cameroonian Joe Etame and Alex Almario stepped up in the extra five minutes to prevail.

"We made some rookie mistakes," said Meneses of his first career win as coach of the NCAA. "So I guess we have to play it smart next time (against the Chiefs)."

The Bombers and the Chiefs collide at 4 p.m. with both teams (1-1) eying their second victory and the solo third spot behind St. Benilde (1-0) and co-leaders San Beda and San Sebastian (3-0).