NCAA S87: JRU vs LPU

History Lesson:
These two teams haven't met up yet, seeing as how Lyceum is a guest team for the first time this season in the NCAA.

What's at Stake:

• If the Heavy Bombers (2-5) want to have a chance at getting into the Final Four, they need to start winning. There isn't any room for excuses now. JRU is complete now, what with Nate Matute back in the line-up and healthy. If they don't compete in the twilight period of the first round, they're pretty much out of consideration then.
• Losses by the teams behind them, EAC and CSB, have temporarily propped up the Pirates (4-4), tightening their hold for now on the fourth seed. Clearly they've overachieved, but it would be a crowning achievement for the team to stay in the hunt and even make it to the post season.

JRU Stat to Watch : Three-point shooting continues to be this squad's weakness, making just 2.71 triples a game, a full triple less than the next team. Lyceum has shown that they're not against using the zone to slow down teams, and so the Heavy Bombers will need to work the ball around if they want to score.

JRU Player to Watch : Teams have figured out that if you stop John Lopez, the rest of the team struggles to put points on the board. Versus Benilde and San Beda, the two teams held Lopez to under double-digit scoring, under double-digit field goal attempts, and just two trips to the line total. Coach Meneses needs to either start using Lopez as a decoy, or design some plays to get him open to score.

LPU Stat to Watch : The Lyceum Pirates currently turn the ball over the most, 22.75 times a game. Unfortuately, their opponents, the JRU Heavy Bombers, score the most turnover points, at 19.43 a game, forcing 22.14 on average. That means, if Shane Ko and the rest of the guards can't take care of the rock, odds are, JRU will be running away with this one.

LPU Player to Watch : Chris Caybayab fouled out in the fourth period versus Letran, unable to lend his shooting to the cause, as his team fell in OT. Cayabyab will likely be guarded by a ton of Bombers, from Byron Villarias, to Nate Matute, to Raycon Kabigting, and possible even some of the point guards, just to switch things up, but the truth is, none of them are particularly known as lockdown defenders, meaning Cayabyab ought to be able to rain some triples down on JRU.

Prediction: JRU Heavy Bombers