COLLEGE of Saint Benilde primed up for its much-awaited grudge match with Jose Rizal University next week with a 74-56 romp of Arellano University in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.

The Blazers moved up to solo third with a 8-4 heading to their showdown with the Bombers on Tuesday.

JRU dropped to 8-5, half-a-game behind Benilde, following a 61-72 loss to University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.

The stakes are much higher in the Blazers-Bombers rematch.

St. Benilde defeated JRU, 93-85, in a chippy overtime battle which featured multiple unsportsmanlike fouls in the team’s first meeting since last year’s infamous second round brawl.

Blazers coach Charles Tiu know that the Bombers are aching for avenge their first round defeat.

“I think it’s a big game for us. I’m sure JRU will be pumped up to play us again. It was an ugly win for us the last time we played them; they’re a tough team, they execute well, they have some good players, so we need to bring our A-game against them; if not, they will eat us alive,” said Tiu.

“We need to be tough to match their physicality. Hopefully, we can execute and follow our game plan, and find a way to grind out the win. I expect it to be a grind-out game, so hopefully, we’re up to the task,” he added.

The win over the Bombers gave the Altas a glimmer of hope in their Final Four aspirations, as the Las Piñas-based cagers rose to 5-7.

The scores:

First game

Benilde (74) – Gozum 17, Oczon 11, Corteza 11, Sangro 8, Carlos 6, Arciaga 5, Nayve 4, Cajucom 4, Mara 4, Jarque 2, Turco 2, Marcos 0, Jalalon 0, Morales 0.
Arellano (56) – Capulong 18, Mallari 11, Valencia 9, Angolan 8, Yanes 6, Talampas 2, Geronimo 2, Villarente 0, Abastillas 0, Dela Cruz 0, Lustina 0, Camay 0, Rosalin 0.
Quarterscores: 17-16; 40-28; 56-48; 74-56

Second game

Perpetual (72) – Roque 17, Pagaran 15, Razon 8, Abis 7, Barcuma 6, Boral 5, Omega 4, Nunez 4, Movida 3, Gelsano 3, Nitura 0, Cuevas 0, Orgo 0.
JRU (61) – Guiab 10, Delos Santos 8, Miranda 7, Sarmiento 6, Dela Rosa 6, De Leon 4, Benitez 4, Medina 4, Ramos 2, Pabico 2, Sy 2, Argente 2, Mosqueda 2, Barrera 2, Arenal 0.
Quarterscores: 19-16; 43-27; 58-40; 72-61.