NCAA: Chiefs keep flickering semis hopes alive with win over Blazers

MANILA, Philippines—Arellano pumped in some life into its flickering final four hopes with a 76-70 victory over also ran St. Benilde Thursday in the NCAA season 89 men’s basketball competition.

The Chiefs are two games behind fourth-running San Sebastian with two games left in the elimination round, which makes their bid to make it to the semifinals a long shot.

Head coach Koy Banal knows the odds are stacked against Arellano, but he said they remain focused on the task at hand.

“We were talking about the chances. It’s a long shot. Wala na sa amin yung chance namin. All we need to do is stay focused every game,” Banal said.

Prince Caperal also continued his impressive play, scoring 25 points and plucking down eight boards for the Chiefs, who stretched their streak to three for the first time this season.

“Coming into this game, sinabi lang samin ni coach mag-focus lang kami sa present at wag sa final four. Binigay lang namin best namin,” Caperal said.

Arellano managed to stay ahead of St. Benilde in the payoff period, and a clutch triple from James Forrester from top of the key pushed the cushion to 73-66 with 1:55 to play.

That was the only triple of the night for Forrester, who spent most of the season sidelined with injury, as he wound up with just six points.

“He will always be there for us. He’s the team leader. If he needs to sacrifice, he will. I like his intensity on both ends of the floor,” Banal said of his Fil-Canadian forward.

The Chiefs lived another day, but their only hope is that both San Sebastian (9-7) and Emilio Aguinaldo (8-8) both fail to score 10 wins while they sweep their last two games.

St. Benilde, meanwhile, dropped further to 5-11. Paolo Taha had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers..

Originally posted at 7:07 p.m. | October 17, 2013