Chiefs out to bolster semis bid vs Danes

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano U tries to stay in the hunt for a berth in the Final Four as it takes on tailender Angeles Univ. Foundation today in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Chiefs remain 2 1/2 games behind fourth running Letran and 1 1/2 games behind St. Benilde but are expected to improve at 4-4 with a victory over the Great Danes in their 4 p.m. encounter.

AUF is down in the standings with Mapua with only a win to show against seven defeats.

Emilio Aguinaldo College and Perpetual Help, tied for seventh with 2-6 slates, collide in the first game at 2 p.m.

The Generals are confident of hurdling the Altas as they also try to keep their flickering semis hopes alive in the 10-team field paced by San Sebastian, unbeaten in eight games, and three-peat champion San Beda, which closed out its first round stint with an 8-1 mark.

“We’re in good shape, our last game was a testament that we’re peaking at the right time. We came prepared against Letran, and despite the loss we know that we achieved our game plan,” said EAC coach Nomar Isla.

The Generals, who stunned the St. Benilde Blazers and the Mapua Cardinals, nearly pulled off a big one against the Knights, losing by a hairline, 84-85, in overtime last week.

Arellano mentor Junjie Ablan, meanwhile, said the Chiefs need to come out strong against the Danes.

“I told the boys to be aggressive on both ends of the floor and stick to the game plan,” said Ablan.

“Just like what we did in our last game, we will keep on pressuring their guards and force them to commit turnovers,” he said.