Altas, Blazers take on dangerous foes

Perpetual Help’s Rey Barcuma leads the Altas’ first win in NCAA Season 98. –NCAA/GMA PHOTO

Perpetual Help and College of St. Benilde return to action on Friday, seeking to keep their share of the early lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament when they clash with separate foes coaches of the Altas and the Blazers said they have high respect for.

“We just have to keep grinding everyday, this is such a balanced league,” Perpetual coach Myk Saguiguit said when asked of their 12 noon clash with Arellano. “It’s not only Arellano we are wary of, but all the other nine teams.”

Saguiguit said that even if the Chiefs will be coming off a 60-51 loss to San Sebastian last week, it doesn’t show the real worth of Arellano.

“Arellano could be the surprise team of the tournament,” he said. “We will have to work very hard and figure that team out.”

Benilde’s Charles Tiu, meanwhile, will be trying to prevent the Stags from notching a second straight win in their 3 p.m. collision at Filoil EcoOil Centre.

“They are always contenders,” Tiu said of the Stags, who “have a strong program that makes them contenders every year.” San Sebastian also had an impressive stint in a preseason tournament.

“Hopefully, we can match their toughness and we rebound them but it’s gonna be a tough tough test for us,” said Tiu, whose charges will be coming off an 86-69 demolition of Lyceum last Sunday.