Surprising Chiefs face Bombers; Lions test Stags

RYUSEI Koga (right) and the San Beda Red Lions hope to bounce back from a loss to Paolo Taha and the St. Benilde Blazers. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Arellano looks to sustain its amazing run today even as San Beda tries to bounce back from a stunning loss in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Undoubtedly the surprise package of the season so far, the Chiefs shoot for a fourth straight victory against the dangerous Jose Rizal U Bombers at 4 p.m., after the Red Lions renew their rivalry with the San Sebastian Stags.

The Red Lions lost for the first time this season last Monday when they fell in a 76-83 upset to the St. Benilde Blazers.

History

History however doesn’t favor the Stags as the four-time defending champion Lions have yet to lose back-to-back games in recent seasons.

Bouncing back emphatically after losing to San Beda three weeks ago, Arellano has been in sensational form, hammering out victories against contenders San Sebastian and Perpetual Help.

The Chiefs’ last two victories saw coach Jerry Codiñera’s charges average 96.5 points, playing fearless, aggressive and unselfish basketball.

Spitfire guard Jiovani Jalalon and wide-bodied playmaker John Pinto have been anchoring the Chiefs’ run-and-gun game with both players sparkling in the last two victories.

The Chiefs are also getting solid contributions from versatile big men Keith Agovida, Dioncee Holts and Allen Enriquez as they zoomed to their best start since joining the league in 2009.

Tough assignment

But the Heavy Bombers will be a tough assignment for the Chiefs with their slow, deliberate game and suffocating defense. Interestingly, the Bombers won their last two games despite averaging just 61 points. Twice, the Bombers lost this season when they scored at least 80 points.

The Stags were also on the wrong end of an upset last Monday when they yielded to the Mapua Cardinals, 81-89.

A third straight loss could send the Stags to the bottom half of the standings—a surprising position since it started the season with wins in three of their first four games.

In games Wednesday, Perpetual Help repulsed Lyceum, 78-62, while Letran arrested its own slide with a 63-61 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College.