INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano hopes to continue its surprising run when the Chiefs stake their unbeaten record against the defending champion San Beda Lions Monday in the 85th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with the Chiefs, one of three guest teams this season, aiming to follow up their convincing back-to-back wins against Emilio Aguinaldo College and Letran.

Clashing in the first game at 2 p.m. are winless guest teams Angeles University Foundation and EAC.

Arellano coach Junjie Ablan believes the clash with the Red Lions will be their toughest this season.

“We need to work twice, maybe thrice than we did in our first two wins for us to beat San Beda,” said Ablan, whose squad whipped EAC, 80-62, last Monday and Letran, 81-73.

Hefty center Giorgio Ciriacruz and ace shooter Adrian Celada have been instrumental in the Chiefs’ fine early-season form.

Ciriacruz averaged 15 points, 6.5 rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals in two games even as Celada, a PBL veteran, normed 16.5 points and six boards.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim said the Lions cannot take the Chiefs lightly.

“We know they’re capable of beating big teams,” Lim said.

The Red Lions bowed to the San Sebastian Stags, 77-83, Wednesday after crushing the Mapua Cardinals, 85-52, on opening day last June 27.

San Beda is hoping to squeeze the best out of 6-foot-8 American recruit Sudan Daniel, who has made little impact on the offense. Daniel, though, tallied nine blocks in the first two games.

Both the Pampanga-based Great Danes and the Generals are coming off one-sided losses. The Great Danes stalked the St. Benilde Blazers for three quarters before yielding, 76-87.