Games Tuesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8:30 a.m. – Mapua vs Arellano (juniors)
11 a.m. – Perpetual vs Letran (seniors)
2:30 p.m. – San Beda vs Benilde (seniors)
5 p.m. – EAC vs Letran (juniors)
By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and San Beda eye a strong start against their respective foes when the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball best-of-three semifinal fires off Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After finishing a disappointing eighth in the 10-school league last season, the Altas worked patiently and diligently during off season on the way to topping Group A in the elims with a 9-4 card and proceeded to clinch a semis berth after downing Jose Rizal University in the quarters.
Question is, can the Altas sustain their impressive run and go all the way to the Promised Land?
It’s no easy task since the Altas will be up against a dangerous Letran side in their 11 a.m. showdown just before 2:30 p.m. duel between the San Beda Red Lions and College of St. Benilde Blazers.
The Altas are also seeking payback against the Knights, who dealt them a 63-56 defeat in the eliminations.
With reigning Mapua already out of contention, a new king of seniors basketball will emerge before the year ends.
This marks the first time for Perpetual to advance to the semis since Season 97, and coach Olsen Racela is determined to complete their amazing rise.
That will be the mission of Mark Gojo Cruz, Patrick Sleat, and, Jearico Nuñez as they spearhead the team’s assault against the Letran side which is eager to reclaim the crown they won last three years ago.
Adding drama and color to the Perpetual-Letran duel is the marquee matchups pvf Cruz and Sleat go against fellow guards in Titing Manalili and Jimboy Estrada.
Manalili and Estrada are backed by talented big man Kevin Santos, who was pivotal in Letran’s two-game stunner over quarters bonus-holder Arellano Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Yukien Andrada vowed to give his all in the series in his desire to extend his final year for the Red Lions, who rolled past Lyceum Pirates, 91-67, in the quarters, when they target a fitting semis opener against the Blazers.
Andrada and company. are facing an expected stiff challenge from Benilde, a team bannered by reigning MVP Allen Liwag, Ian Torres, Raffy Celis, Tony Ynot, and burly frontcourt Shawn Umali.
Torres, Liwag, and Umali were largely responsible for the Blazers’ hard-fought 74-72 triumph over the Cardinals in their quarters match last Friday.
Out to provide offensive support to Andrada are Janti Miller and Bryan Sajonia.
Juniors division games are scheduled in the morning with Mapua and Arellano raising the curtain at 8:30 a.m., while Emilio Aguinaldo College and Letran conclude the quadruple header at 5 p.m.
