Arellano, Letran hope to improve NCAA semis chances

Letran and Arellano clash on Friday with the winner earning solo fourth spot as the Final Four race in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament gets tighter at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City. Currently tied at fourth, with similar 7-4 records, the Knights and the Chiefs are expected to go all out in order to gain at least a slight edge over each other heading into the final stretch of the elimination round. Even the Chiefs’ 81-72 first round win over the Knights have become a non factor in their 4 p.m. encounter as Arellano coach Junjie Ablan admitted that Letran is more potent team this time. “We know we beat them (Letran) in the first round but things are different now so we have to be ready on how they will adjust," said Ablan. "They (Letran) are more dangerous." Ablan could be right. With team captain RJ Jazul back to his old lethal form, Letran cruised to dominating 92-66 triumph over guest team Emilio Aguinaldo College. Jasul unleashed 21 points, a season-high 13 assists, five rebounds and four steals against the Generals. And if Jazul could once again produce the same numbers, he would definitely be able to help the Knights avenge their first round defeat a victory that would boost the Knights’ Final Four chances. "We lost to them in the first round because we let them dictate the tempo and rhythm of the match," said Alas. "Hopefully, we will win this one. This is a must win situation for us, this could break or make our season." Alas must also find a way to contain Chiefs’ top slotman Gio Ciriacruz, who posted career highs of 31 points and 16 rebounds in Arellano’s 82-72 tripping of St. Benilde last week. In another featured match, Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo try to improve their respective standings when they meet in the first seniors' match set at 2 p.m. Perpetual is currently at seventh spot with a 3-8 slate while Emilio Aguinaldo is at eighth with a 2-9 record. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV