Altas brace for tough test against Lions

MANILA, Philippines - The Perpetual Help  Altas will have a chance to underscore their readiness for a possible title shot as they clash with the San Beda Red Lions today in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

“We’ve proven last year that with the right attitude and a more disciplined approach, we could compete against the best of them including San Beda, which we all know is the yardstick in this league,” said veteran coach Aric  del Rosario, who steered Santo Tomas to a four-peat feat in the UAAP in the 90s, in Filipino.

The Altas, who have nailed their third straight win and fifth overall in six outings with a 73-68 triumph over the Mapua Cardinals Monday, have become serious contenders mainly thru the efforts of rookie sensation Juneric Baloria and Nigerian Nosa Omorogbe.

Jose Rizal plays San Sebastian in the second game. The Stags have four wins against two losses while the Bombers have 3-3 win-loss card

Baloria, a 22-year-old Lanao del Norte native who was discovered playing pick up ball in the playgrounds of Angeles, Pampanga, has averaged a league high 23.3 points while Omorogbe a fifth best 16.33 points a game.

While Baloria and Omorogbe take the scoring cudgels, the undersized frontcourt tandem of Harold Arboleda and Justine Alano have taken the defensive roles to the hilt as the duo posted per game norms of 12.67 (third best) and 8.33 boards (11th best).