San Beda battles Arellano, eyes share of lead

Photo by Tristan Rafael Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Beda shoots for a share of the lead Tuesday as it clashes with Arellano for the first time since last season’s championship series in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Red Lions will tie the Letran Knights on top with a victory in their 4 p.m. encounter with the Chiefs who share fourth spot with the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers (5-3).

Perpetual Help tries to firm up its hold of the No. 3 spot against JRU in an equally interesting duel at 2 p.m.

Scottie Thompson is expected to start for the Altas after sustaining an ankle sprain in a 68-55 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals. The reigning MVP is raring to bounce back after scoring just four points against the Generals.

Also hoping to come up with a better outing is Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie who managed just a single point in the previous outing.

The Bombers enter the game on a high after pulling off a 90-87 win over Mapua in a game where they trailed by 16 points in the last 90 seconds.

Playmaker Tey Teodoro hopes to follow up his career-best 32 points against a Perpetual Help squad that totes a 6-2 record.

The Lions downed the San Sebastian Stags, 92-81, last Thursday to fan their streak to five games.

Nigerian center Ola Adeogun has been on a tear for the Lions, finishing with 28 points and 14 boards against the Stags. San Beda has the luxury of formidable big men with Art dela Cruz and Nigerian Donald Tankoua also backstopping Adeogun.

Dioncee Holts, Nico Bangga and Julius Cadavis will have their hands full against the San Beda frontline.

“We’re still going to run but we’ll still try to maximize some of our advantages,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.