Perpetual seeks 8th win; Arellano faces Lyceum

Games Tuesday (The Arena, San Juan) 2 p.m. − Arellano vs St. Benilde 4 p.m. − Lyceum vs Perpetual

University of Perpetual Help and Arellano University will be looking for redemption today when they go up against separate rivals in the NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Both teams have declared that they have moved on from their sad experiences the last time so expect the Chiefs and the Altas to be in their sharpest forms once again as they try to stay in contention for Final Four berths.

In the interest of the country’s oldest collegiate league, the Arellano management softened up and withdrew its protest letter it lodged after their controversial game against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers last week as it looks for bigger things ahead starting with their 2 p.m. showdown with the College of St. Benilde Blazers.

The Altas, on the other hand, collide with the Lyceum Pirates with PBAbound Scottie Thompson confident to lead Perpetual back to the winning track following the team’s stinging 7065 loss to the Mapua Cardinals also last week.

Perpetual is currently ranked No. 3 in the standings with a 7-3 card while JRU and Arellano are tied for fourth to fifth places with similar 6-4 records.

The Chiefs were narrowly beaten by the Heavy Bombers in double overtime, 114-112, in a game many felt like they were robbed of a decent win following a great game.

Blame Arellano’s loss to the referees who initially called a Tey Teodoro’s long two a three pointer. That call forced the Chiefs to foul JRU’s Gio Lasquety immediately.

Realizing their folly, the referees rescinded the call, making Teodoro’s basket a two-point basket, thus triggering a massive protest from the Chiefs,

Arellano Management Committee representative Peter Cayco said they withdrew the protest letter, saying the incident wasn’t JRU’s fault.

“I was ordered by my president not to put the game under protest in the spirit of sportsmanship and in the interest of the NCAA,” Cayco added.

The biggest loser in that game was Arellano’s Jiovanni Jalalon. The do-itall guard exploded for 36 points aside from posting 16 assists and seven rebounds. But his efforts just went down the drain – no thanks to that call.

The Blazers are still smarting from an 89-63 defeat to the San Beda Red Lions.

The Lions are tied for the lead with the Letran Knights with similar 9-2 records.