Generals, Chiefs eye share of lead

Games today (The Arena, San Juan) 12 noon – Arellano U vs EAC (jrs/srs) 4 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs St. Benilde (srs/jrs)

milio Aguinaldo and Arellano see to sustain their impressive start as they collide today for the a share of the lead with four-peat champion San Beda and Perpetual Help in the 0th NCAA bas etball tournament at The Arena in San Juan The Generals are riding the crest of their emphatic 81-72 victory over the St. Benilde Blazers last ednesday while the Chiefs are coming off a come-from-behind 3-80 triumph over the Lyceum Pirates last wee .

At sta e in the 2 p.m. match will be a slice of leadership with San Beda and Perpetual, both unbeaten in two starts.

AC coach Gerry splana said he will need another strong effort from his Cameroonian import Noube Happi and his pair of roo ies Ariel Aguilar and Jeraldo Serrano.

The 6-7 Happi had a monster effort in his first game of the season with 12 points, 17 rebounds and three bloc s while both Aguilar and Serrano similarly made an auspicious debut by combining for 25 points.

Aguilar, a product of AC’s high school program, was an excellent reliever to starter John Tayongtong at the point while playing the two on some occasions. The reed-thin Serrano provided the team with outside shooting as a floor-spacing big man and also hit three triples to wind up with 12 points.

f we could get the same efforts we got from Noube and my roo ies, we’ll be happy,” said splana.

or Arellano mentor Jerry Codi era, defense will be the ey.

e have to ma e sure to chec Happi and also stop their shooters,” said Codi era, who has succeeded oy Banal early in the year.

John Pinto is expected to draw the attention from the Generals after he erupted for 20 points, 16 of them coming in the second half when the Chiefs turned a first half deficit to a double-digit win. Pinto nows he must lead by example. Coach Codi era always tells me to be the leader and set a good example for my teammates and don’t want to disappoint the team,” said Pinto in ilipino.