Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
8 a.m. – Malayan vs SSCR (Jrs)
10 a.m. – San Beda vs Letran (Jrs)
12 noon – Mapua vs SSCR (Srs)
2 p.m. – San Beda vs Letran (Srs)
4 p.m. – JRU vs Lyceum (Srs)
6 p.m. – JRU vs Lyceum (Jrs)
Arellano University bucked the absence of top gunner Kent Salado and downed University of Perpetual Help, 62-52, to enhance its Final Four bid in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Chiefs leaned on a scoring binge bridging the second to third quarters to extend their winning streak to three games for an 8-9 win-loss record – good for solo fifth.
Lervin Flores and Rence Alcoriza anchored Arellano’s attack by finishing with 19 and 16 points, respectively, while combining for 15 rebounds to make up for the absence of Salado.
The high-leaping Salado suffered a season-ending medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury on his right knee during their game against San Sebastian last Tuesday.
Trailing the Altas, 23-22, the Chiefs suddenly came to life late in the second quarter. They remained hot even at the start of the second half that they took a 37-25 lead.
The even padded their lead to 44-25.
Perpetual, however, refused to give up the fight easily as it made one last hurrah that saw them cut the Chiefs lead down to 12, 62-50.
But time was not on their side anymore.
The Altas, already eliminated from the semis race, fell to 4-12 despite Prince Eze’s impressive showing of 11 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks.
For the Chiefs to gain a playoff for the last semis berth, they have to beat also-ran Mapua on Oct. 17.
First Game
ARELLANO 62 – Flores 19, Alcoriza 16, Dela Cruz 11, Canete 6, Nicholls 5, Villoria 4, Meca 1, Enriquez 0, Abanes 0, Ongolo Ongolo 0, Taywan 0, Concepcion 0, Padilla 0.
PERPETUAL 52 – Coronel 14, Eze 11, Lucente 10, Pido 8, Dagangon 6, Ylagan 3, Tamayo 0, Casas 0, Clemente 0, Yuhico 0, Mangalino 0, Sadiwa 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 29-23, 48-34, 62-52.