Stags' unblemished record on the line against Chiefs; Knights hoping to sweep JRU

CALVIN Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang, known collectively as the Big Three, resume their winning ways when San Sebastian College shoots for win no. 11 against Arellano University today in the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil-Flying V Arena.

The Stags and the Chiefs tangle at 2 p.m., with the Stags heavily favored to add another win and keep their streak intact going into the Final Four.

Still, San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson said the team needs to improve defensively if it wants to stay on top.

“We’re only a game ahead of San Beda and two games ahead of Letran. So, just because we’re number one, it’s not a guarantee for us that we could stay there. We have good offensive players, but we also have to be known as a good defensive team. We're trying to make a statement that we're also as good defensively," said Robinson.

The Chiefs (4-7), who beat Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 78-70, the other day, will be playing without Leo Isaac, who is in the United States to observe Stanford University’s sports program and to scout for Fil-American players while in Houston.

His assistant, Junjie Ablan will take over for the game against San Sebastian, as Arellano tries to go for an upset win.

Later at 4 p.m., Letran (8-2) guns for a fifth straight victory when it tackles Jose Rizal University (3-7).

A fifth straight victory win and ninth overall will inch the Knights closer to the Stags and the San Beda Red Lions as they gun for the top two spot, which carries a twice-to-beat incentive.

The Knghts are coming off a 73-59 rout of the Chiefs that kept them at solo third.

“Every game counts sa amin. Lahat ng teams dito, natatakot lang sa San Sebastian at San Beda. Lahat kaming walong teams, walang respeto, at feeling nila, kaya nilang talunin bawat isa. So yung intimidation, sa San Beda at sa San Sebastian lang,” said Letrn coach Louie Alas.

Still, the focus on today's matches will be on Abueva, who upped his average to 22-1 after scoring a pesonal-high 34 points in the Stags' 99-63 demolition of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals a week ago.

Sangalang also set a record in that game, as he scored a personal-best 18 points and 25 rebounds, 15 of them on the offensive end. His rebound total and offensive rebounds were both season-best.