Arellano U Presses bid for final 4

Kent Salado. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Written off as a contender couple of weeks ago, Arellano is determined to make the most out of its lifeline in the NCAA Season 93 Final Four race.

But a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the availability of Chiefs’ main man Kent Salado as they continue their postseason push on Thursday against the Perpetual Help Altas at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Salado scored 22 points before limping off the floor due to a knee injury late in the 85-79 win over the San Sebastian Stags last Tuesday when Jose Rizal U clinched the third Final Four berth.

Up until Wednesday afternoon, Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera remained unsure on the status of Salado, who averages 18.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season.

“Hopefully, he (Salado) can play, but with or without him, we have to be ready,” said Codiñera, whose team still has to beat Mapua on Tuesday and hope that Letran splits its last two games to forge a playoff for the last Final Four spot.

The Chiefs will be up against a Perpetual team that is no longer in the running for a Final Four spot, but intends to play the role of spoiler.

Perpetual lost to fellow also-ran Mapua, 76-81, last week.

The Altas are bent on finishing the season on a positive note just like the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, who clash with the St. Benilde Blazers at 4 p.m.