MANILA, Philippines — Given little chance to contend this season, Arellano University proved its doubters wrong as it shocked fancied Emilio Aguinaldo College, 63-58, yesterday to set in motion its ambitious title bid in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It took the Chiefs a basketball vagabond in Darrel Menina to score the upset win on a rainy NCAA opening day.
In the other game, Mapua lived up to its top billing as it overpowered San Beda, 66-55, to seize a share of the lead.
The 25-year-old Menina, playing his one and only season for AU after stops with Mapua, National U and University of Cebu, took charge when it mattered most and fired 15 points that propelled his team to the win.
Menina hushed the non-believers who predicted the Chiefs wouldn’t contend after losing multiple key players headed by Justin Arana to the pros and playing with a whopping eight rookies.
They forgot to consider a dynamo of a player like Menina, who came off the bench to deliver the killer punch.
The triumph was huge because it came at the expense of an EAC team that practically kept an intact line up from the previous season.
AU coach Cholo Martin was all praises for Menina.
“I knew he will deliver. He isn’t a veteran for nothing,” said Martin of the Cebuano.
Axel Doromal chipped in 13 points while Neil Tolentino scattered 10.
The game also produced a hero in Fil-Australian Cade Flores, who toyed with a double-double performance before ending up with nine points and 13 rebounds.