By Kristel Satumbaga
Games Today
(Arellano gym, Legarda)
2 p.m. – Arellano vs EAC (Jrs)
4 p.m. – Arellano vs EAC (Srs)
If weather cooperates, Arellano University will start its title campaign at its own turf today when it hosts the “NCAA on Tour” at its Legarda campus gym in Manila.
Like some other teams, the Chiefs also hope to start their own championship bid on a winning note when they clash with the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals at 4 p.m.
This will be the second stop of the league’s “NCAA on Tour” program aimed at bringing the games closer to the audience, and Arellano hopes the homecourt advantage will play a big role in its bid for a winning start.
Arellano was supposed to play San Beda University on July 10 and University of Perpetual Help last Tuesday, but both games were postponed due to inclement weather.
While Arellano has extra days, coach Jerry Codiñera admitted they haven’t practiced for couple of days as some of his players were stranded in their dormitories due to flood. The school’s basketball court was also damp, making it unfit for training.
“Hindi kami makumpleto (We couldn’t practice with a complete lineup),” said Codiñera.
Michael Cañete, Archie Concepcion and Ellie Ongolo Ongolo will lead the Chiefs following the absence of spitfire Kent Salado, who tore an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) early this year that ruled him out of the season.
EAC, meanwhile, is determined to regain its composure from a 106-97 loss to Lyceum last Friday.
The Generals are expected to learn from that defeat, where they started slow and trailed as many as 31 points before cutting it to just three, only to fall short in the end.
Hamadou Lamino will spearhead EAC after a double-double performance of 34 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks the last time, along with Jerome Garcia and Jed Mendoza.
