Arellano Chiefs banking on old faces, transferees in Filoil bid

MANILA, Philippines – When the 13th staging of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup gets underway on May 5 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, the Arellano University Chiefs will have a few faces back while seeing plenty of new ones in uniform.

Gone are Richard Abanes, Levi dela Cruz, Michael Cañete, Brylle Meca and Kraniel Villoria, who were huge parts of the team’s offense last season. Abanes, Villoria and Dela Cruz have reportedly transferred. Canete and Meca have both graduated.

However, the Chiefs will have a huge weapon from the years they went to two NCAA finals — Kent Salado.

Salado was one of Arellano’s Big Three along with Jiovani Jalalon and Donald Gumaru, all of whom led the Chiefs to NCAA title series finishes in Seasons 90 and 92.

Also back are Archie Concepcion, Rence Alcoriza, Ronan Santos, sophomore Maui Sera-Josef — who turned a lot of heads with his potential last season — and Eli Ongolo Ongolo. 

New head coach Cholo Martin is in charge in his full first season with Arellano University. He has two transferees who he hopes will help. 

There’s Justin Araña, who played two seasons ago for UST, and Alfren Gayosa, who is playing for his third college.

Gayosa played for San Sebastian in high school, was recruited by UST for college where he played for one season, then transferred back to NCAA where he suited up for the Stags. Like other Stags teammates who also left after reported rows with the coaching staff (the bulk moved to Lyceum of the Philippines University), Gayosa departed. This time, he hopes he’s found a home with Arellano.

Rounding out the rest of Arellano’s 18-man lineup for the tournament are Dariel Bayla, Gelo Sablan, Kent Segura, Jan Sacramento, Oliver De Guzman, Kevin Loyola, Marlon Espiritu, Lars Sunga, Rap Cruz and Jeremiah Guzman.

The Arellano University Chiefs make their tournament debut at 5 p.m. on May 7 against highly fancied University of the Philippines.