Altas, Chiefs eye share of third place

Games Tuesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Arellano U vs EAC (Srs)

2 p.m. – San Sebastian vs LPU (Srs)

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs St. Benilde (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines – Perpetual Help and Arellano U seek to join defending champion Letran at third place as the two take on St. Benilde and Emilio Aguinaldo, respectively, on Tuesday in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Drawing strength from Bright Akhuetie and their defense, the Altas slew the Knights, 61-55, Friday to barge into the magic four with a 3-2 (win-loss) record and another win at 4 p.m. against the Blazers, winless in six outings, will pushed them to joint No. 3 with the idle Knights (4-2).

The Chiefs, for their part, try to bounce back from an 86-101 setback to the San Beda Lions Friday as it tangle with the Generals, winners of just a game in five outings, at 12 p.m. that sent the former reeling to a second defeat against three triumphs.

The only other game pits a streaking Lyceum of the Phl U against San Sebastian at 2 p.m.

After starting the season with three straight defeats, the Pirates racked up two wins in a row with rookie sensation Ian Alban averaging 20 points in those two wins including a 21-point effort in a 75-58 win over the St. Benilde Blazers Thursday.

And Alban, a Tondo native who transferred from Fatima College, should be the player to watch anew for LPU.

"He's been playing big the past two games and I hope keeps his aggressiveness the whole season," said LPU coach Topex Robinson of Alban.

The Stags have a 1-4 mark.

Akhuetie is expected to impose his will anew after coming through with 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks versus Letran although Perpetual Help coach Gimwell Gican is more focused on improving their defense even more.

"We want to be generally better in defense each game particularly on defense," said Gican in Filipino.

For the Blazers, Cameroonian Clement Leutcheu will be a doubtful starter after he hurt his knee in loss to LPU.