AU Chiefs have arrived

Three-time Fr. Martin Cup champion Arellano U showed its readiness to join the NCAA as it stunned 2006 UAAP champion Santo Tomas, 69-59, yesterday to barge into the “Sweet 16” of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Makati Coliseum.

Orlando Daroya, priming up for his PBL debut for Pharex tomorrow, dished out a double-double performance of 32 points and 10 rebounds while coming up with five steals to power the Chiefs to the big win and a clash with UCAA champion Universal College of Nursing in the main draw.

“I guess teams will start to take notice of us now,” said Arellano coach Leo Isaac, who made a record of sort after he became the first mentor to steer two teams in the Sweet 16 after leading Mapua into the tournament proper the other day.

University of the East and Lyceum likewise advanced to the next phase by routing St. Clare, 108-80, and University of Nueva Caceres-Naga City, 81-60, respectively.

The Warriors arranged a showdown with the 6-9 George Slaughter-led Cebu champion University of Visayas while the Pirates will meet reigning UAAP titlist Ateneo.

The Chiefs, also the back-to-back NCRAA champions bidding to take Phil. Christian U’s slot in the NCAA next season, dominated the Tigers as they led from start to finish to boot out the fancied España-based squad, which missed the services of injured Jervy Cruz and Japs Cuan.

Arellano employed a man-to-man full-court trapping defense to scuttle UST and sustained aggressive offensive game throughout the contest.

Dylan Ababou, a PBL star playing for Magnolia Purewater, scored 22 points for UST.

The tournament is staking P500,000, P200,000 and P150,000 for the first to third placers in scholarship grants, courtesy of Smart, PLDT, KFC, Flying V, Fil-Oil and The STAR and another P500,000, P200,000 and P150,000 in cash courtesy of telecommunication boss Manny V. Pangilinan.