Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. — San Beda vs Arellano
3 p.m. — Mapua vs JRU
Maintaining its standing in the leaderboard will be San Beda University’s main agenda when it faces Arellano University today as the race for Final Four slots intensifies in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Hostilities erupt at noon with the Red Lions attempting to repeat their mastery of the Chiefs following their 96-61 victory early last month.
At 3 p.m., Jose Rizal University will try to break a two-game losing streak against Mapua University.
But eyes will be on San Beda after a 72-64 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College last 25 October behind Tony Ynot’s career-high 25 points.
Despite Ynot’s performance and steady contributions from veterans James Kwekuteye and JB Bahio, Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta said they need to get better rebounds after just barely beating the Generals, 48-46, in that department.
“We have to rebound the ball better. That has been our issue in the past two games,” Escueta said.
“We need to take care of our possessions. If we give up extra possessions, it’s going to be difficult for us to win. We have to take care of our possessions, get those rebounds and limit those turnovers,” he added.
San Beda totes a 7-4 win-loss card and right behind league-leading Saint Benilde (9-2)and defending champion Letran College (8-3).
As for Arellano, which is at sixth and holds a 5-6 card, head coach Cholo Martin wants to emphasize to his boys about sharing the ball inside the court and not just relying on veteran guard Axel Doromal or other players such as Cade Flores and Shane Menina.
“We have to run our plays. We can’t let Axel play all by himself we have to let his teammates participate,” said Martin after the Chiefs’ 77-63 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University last week.
“If his shots can’t fall in, pass it around and allow the teammates to contribute to the team. We’ll have to defend well too.”
