Letran takes on Arellano; EAC faces Lyceum

All four teams seeing action on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan for Season 88 of the NCAA has one common denominator: They are all coming off heartbreaking setbacks.

At 4 p.m., this year’s host Letran, which is coming off a 69-66 loss at the hands of Perpetual Help last week, will be facing Arellano, who are on a three-game losing skid to open the season under new coach Koy Banal.

The Knights, led by court general Kevin Alas and Jam Cortes, are raring to get back on the winning track against the cellar-dwelling Chiefs, whose first loss came against a six-man San Beda squad.

Without a steady and consistent leader to lead and inspire the Chiefs, Coach Koy Banal seems to have a big problem at the helm. San Beda’s Super Six handed Arellano their first loss which was followed by Perpetual and JRU.

In the main game at 6 p.m., the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, who are fresh off a 90-79 defeat against Jose Rizal University last Thursday, will face the still winles Lyceum of the Philippines.

The Intramuros-based squad of coach Bonnie Tan bowed to St. Benilde in their first assignment followed by losses to Perpetual Help and San Beda.

Despite good games from Dexter Zamora, Vence Laude Mark Francisco and leaders Chris Cayabyab and Rich Guevarra, the Pirates are hoping to get into the win column.

The Generals, meanwhile, kept pace with league-leading JRU last Thursday until they lost grip late in the fourth quarter, when the Heavy Bombers started to pull away. Coach Gerry Esplana will be relying on his strong five of Jan Jamon, Russell Yaya, and rookies John Tayongtong, Francis Munsayac and Cedric Noube Happi.

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