Basketball
San Sebastian shoots for solo second versus Arellano; Saint Benilde, Lyceum battle
AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan
San Sebastian will try to secure solo second place when they take on the Arellano Chiefs in the first game of NCAA Season 88′s double-header at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Stags are coming off an 83-75 win over the Lyceum Pirates last Thursday. This was the same game where league-leading MVP contender Calvin Abueva was ejected from the playing court in the second half due to a disqualifying foul after hitting Lyceum’s Vence Laude on the nape with closed fists.
Ian Sangalang has been a steady piece for the Stags, who will be coached by interim coach Allan Trinidad for the second straight game.
Currently, the Stags are tied with the JRU Heavy Bombers at second and third with identical 8-3 slates.
The Arellano Chiefs dropped their last assignment, 76-57 at the hands of the rising EAC Generals last Saturday. Sensational rookie Nard Pinto, resident guard Rocky Acidre and Fil-Canadian James Forrester failed to deliver for Coach Koy Banal in their last outing.
Arellano is in a three-way logjam with EAC and Mapua at the 6th-8th spots with similar 4-7 slates.
In the other game, the Lyceum Pirates and the Saint Benilde Blazers will clash to regain winning form after coming off tough losses in their previous outings.
The Pirates bowed down to the Stags, 83-75, while the Blazers got a 74-56 beating from reigning champion San Beda.
Shane Ko, who got back to his usual offense-minded game, scored 23 points for Lyceum in their last game but his performance was not enough to carry the Pirates to their third win.
The Blazers found themselves lost in the woods in their last game against San Beda. Saint Benilde was clamped down on, with no Blazer managing to break into double-digit scoring.
Lyceum and Saint Benilde will attempt to outdo the other to climb up from the bottom of the standings, where both teams are currently situated.
