Letran, Arellano out to stay in semis contention
THE Letran Knights and Arellano Chiefs play their final game in the elimination round of Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) against separate opponents with an eye on getting the all-important win to at least gain a playoff for the remaining semifinal spot.
Currently tied for number four with an 8- 9 record, along with season hosts San Sebastian Stags, the Knights and Chiefs look to notch win number nine to stay in the hunt for the Final Four via a playoff, or in the best-case sce- nario earn a direct passage if the other rival teams falter.
Letran takes on the alreadyeliminated College of St. Benilde Blazers in the 4 p.m. game at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City while Arellano engages tailenders Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m.
Serving as aperitif for the two games is the joust between also- rans Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and University of Perpetual Help Altas at 12 noon.
The Knights enter their final game of the eliminations coming off back- to- back losses to league- leaders Lyceum Pirates and San Beda Red Lions, in that order, that derailed their chances of entering the semifinal round complication-free.
Against the Lions last Friday, the Knights tried their best to keep in step with the defending champions with the hope of snatching the win in the end and put less pressure on them for today’s game.
San Beda though would hang tough in the windup to escape with a 73-68 victory.
Bong Quinto led Letran with 18 points and 10 rebounds followed by Jerrick Balanza with 16 and JP Calvo 12 points.
Veteran Rey Nambatac was limited to just eight points as Letran slumped to the loss.
“We are not out of the race yet. We must take care of our business in the must-win game on Tuesday against College of St. Benilde and take it from there,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa following their loss last Friday.
FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
In the case of Arellano, it has racked three straight victories to infuse life back to its once-flickering playoff hopes.
The most recent of the Chiefs’ victories came over Perpetual Help, 62-52, last Thursday, where they played sans floor general Kent Salado.
Big man Lervin Flores stepped up for Arellano in the absence of Salado, who is now out for the season with an MCL tear he sustained against San Sebastian in an earlier game, with 19 points to go along with eight boards.
Rence Alcoriza had 16 points and seven rebounds while Levi dela Cruz finished with 11 markers for the Jerry Codiñeracoached Chiefs, the losing finalists last year.
“We missed Kent today and it showed in our slow start as we had a tough time scoring. But the players grew confident as the game progressed and we won to stay in contention,” said Mr. Codiñera following their win.
“Hopefully the confidence we got from this game we get to use in our next game,” he added.
Looking intently at how Letran and Arellano would fare today is San Sebastian, which is to play its final game of the eliminations against Perpetual Help later this week.
Meanwhile, CJ Perez of stillundefeated Lyceum bagged another player of the week honors with his scintillating performance in their game against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers for their 17th straight win of the season, 100-63.
Perez, who is giving his most valuable player of the season push major wind, scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists and had four steals to help his team to the lopsided victory.
In winning the award, Perez beat out Flores of Arellano.