Altas ready to soar for share of second

Games today 

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Arellano U 

6 p.m. – St. Benilde vs San Sebastian

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help faces an unpredictable Arellano U side today, looking for a victory and a share of second with reigning three-peat champion San Beda in the 89th NCAA men’s tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Altas bounced back from a heartbreaking 77-78 overtime setback to the San Sebastian Stags last July 8 with a 71-66 victory over the Lyceum Pirates over the weekend as they moved to solo third with a 3-1 (win-loss) record.

But Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario remains wary of the Chiefs in their 4 p.m. encounter. Arellano is in joint fifth with Lyceum and San Sebastian with 2-2 cards.

“I consider them (Arellano U) as one of the teams to beat so we know it’s going to be another tough game for us,” said del Rosario in Filipino.

The Las Piñas-based squad has been drawing big games from rookie sensation Juneric Baloria and Nigerian Nosa Omorogbe, who combined for 37 points in their last win.

The two are again expected to step up against the Chiefs even as the Altas await the return of 6-7 Nigerian Femi Babayemi, who remains a doubtful starter with a recurring back spasm.

“We hope to get good games from them (Omorogbe and Baloria) again and possibly from the other players,” said del Rosario, referring to Harold Arboleda, who has normed 11 points and 11 rebounds, and defense specialist Justine Alano.

San Sebastian, for its part, tries to join Jose Rizal (3-2) at No. 4 as it plays a hard-luck St. Benilde side out to end a string of close, heart-breaking defeats at 6 p.m.

The Blazers have lost their first four games by an average losing margin of 1.25 points with one two-point defeat and three one-point setbacks, the last a 60-61 loss to Letran.