Chiefs hope for the best

Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City) 12 noon – Arellano vs Perpetual (Jrs) 2 p.m. – Arellano vs Perpetual (Srs) 4 p.m. – CSB vs EAC (Srs) 6 p.m. – LSGH vs EAC (Jrs)

Arellano University attempts to keep its semifinal hopes alive today when it squares off with University of Perpetual Help in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

Hanging by a thread with a 7-9 card at joint fifth, the Chiefs seek to tighten their grip in the 2 p.m. duel with the Altas.

Arellano breathed life into its campaign last Tuesday with a morale-boosting 85-79 victory over San Sebastian. Coach Jerry Codiñera, nonetheless, cautioned his stalwarts about the danger of facing an eliminated team like Perpetual which has nothing to lose.

Adding pressure to the Chiefs' campaign is the status of Kent Salado, who is a doubtful starter after hurting his right leg in their previous game.

“We need to go hard on our games. Win hard. I still believe that we can make it to the Final Four,” said Codiñera.

Lyceum (16-0), San Beda (15-1) and Jose Rizal University (11-6) have already booked semis tickets, leaving Arellano, Letran (8-8), San Sebastian (7-9) and Emilio Aguinaldo (6-10) scrambling for the last slot.

With Salado day-to-day, Codiñera will have to rely on Michael Canete, Levi Dela Cruz and Lervin Flores to fuel the Chiefs.

In the other game, EAC battles College of St. Benilde at 4 p.m. Carrying a 6-10 mark at seventh place, a loss for the Generals would eliminate them from the semis race.