Struggling teams to firm up campaigns

Games today (San Juan The Arena)

4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Jose Rizal
6 p.m. – Arellano U vs Mapua

Standings    W    L
Letran    3    0
San Beda    3    1
Perpetual    2    1
Lyceum    2    1
San Sebastian    2    2
Jose Rizal     1    2
Arellano U     1    2
Mapua     1    2
EAC    1    3
St. Benilde    0    2
 

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano U clashes with Mapua while Jose Rizal tangles with St. Benilde in a pair of showdowns among beleaguered teams in the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City today.

After an impressive pre-season campaign, the Chiefs found themselves in the lower half of the 10-team field with a 1-2 card, including a 54-67 defeat to the reigning three-peat champions San Beda Lions last week.

But Arellano U coach Koy Banal said it’s never too late to get back on the winning track again.

“It’s part of life really, about falling and learning to rise again,” said Banal, whose wards reached the quarterfinals of the Filoil Cup. “So I keep telling my players to keep the faith and keep on fighting because it’s never too late.”

Like the Chiefs, the Atoy Co-mentored Cardinals are also off to a shaky start, dropping two of their first three outings, including a stinging 59-74 setback to the resurgent Lyceum Pirates Saturday.  

Gametime is at 6 p.m.

Jose Rizal, tied with Arellano U and Mapua at fifth, also hopes to bounce back from a heartbreaking 66-69 overtime loss to San Beda in a game the former led majority of the way.

But the Bombers will be facing a St. Benilde side raring to rebound from back-to-back one-point losses, a 70-71 heartbreaker to the Lions in league opener last June 22 and a 72-73 setback to the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals last week.