ARELLANO University seeks to keep its grip on the solo lead, while San Beda tries to keep stay close as the two tackle Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Sebastian, respectively, today in the 92nd NCAA juniors’ basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Braves seized the solo lead after they turned back the Mapua Robins, 83-74, last week and should stay at the helm if they could hurdle the Junior Pirates, who split their first six matches to stay in the middle of the pack, in their 4 p.m. showdown.
Guillmer dela Torre should be the player to watch anew after he averaged a team-best 18.5 points, which was fifth best in the league, to go with 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals a game, while Aaron Fermin have been doing the dirty job by norming 10.8 points, a league-high 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game.
And Arellano University coach Tyler Darjuan hopes they continue to play aggressive.
“We have to be consistently aggressive in what we do, may it be in offense or defense because that will help the team in a long way,” said Darjuan, who is seeking to finally win it this season after coming one game close to unseating the seven-peat titlist San Beda last year.
The Cubs, for their part, will be aiming for their sixth win in row as they collide with the San Sebastian Staglets, who are eyeing their first win after dropping their first six outings, in their duel set at 10:45 a.m.
Other games pit Letran (3-3) against Perpetual Help (3-3) at 9 a.m., St. Benilde (3-3) versus Jose Rizal (2-4) at 12:30 p.m., and Emilio Aguinaldo (0-6) against last year’s third placer Mapua (4-1) at 2:15.
Games today (The Arena, San Juan)
9 a.m.- Letran vs Perpetual (jrs)
10:45 a.m.- San Sebastian vs San Beda (jrs)
12:30 p.m.- St. Benilde vs Jose Rizal (jrs)
2:15 p.m.- EAC vs Mapua (jrs)
4 p.m.- LPU vs Arellano U (jrs)