Basketball
San Sebastian takes on Mapua; Perpetual Help, Arellano face off
AKTV file photo/Paul Ryan Tan
Perpetual Help, which is slowly turning into the dark horse of NCAA Season 88, will try to close out its first round campaign on a high note when it takes on struggling Arellano University in the curtain-raiser of a doubleheader Monday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Altas take on the Chiefs at 4 p.m. before the San Sebastian-Mapua duel at 6 p.m.
Perpetual is sitting in one of the top four spots, with Jet Vidal, Earl Thompson, and Nigerian Femi Babayemi leading the way. They will take on an Arellano squad that has lost its last two games.
But the Chiefs remain a dangerous foe behind Filipino-Canadian rookie James Forrester and veterans Rocky Acidre and Levi Hernandez.
In the main game, the league-leading Stags will try to extend the agony of the Cardinals, who are on a three-game losing skid.
San Sebastian, however, is unsure whether star center Ian Sangalang can suit up due to a left leg injury. Sangalang failed to suit up in the Stags’ last game against Emilio Aguinaldo College due to the injury, which he sustained in practice.
Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual, who have submitted their applications to turn pro, will try to lift the team as a tandem, hoping to get support from Jovit Dela Cruz, Michael Miranda and Bobby Balucanag.
Mapua has been having a hard time closing out games, and will have to make the necessary adjustment on offense with the dipping performance of key player Josan Nimes.
A bright spot has been Gab Banal, a transferee from La Salle, who has been providing quality minutes for the Cardinals despite their recent losses.
