LA SALLE PUTS IMPRESSIVE STREAK ON THE LINE
La Salle’s Green Archers look to continue their impressive showing in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup when they take on NCAA powerhouse San Beda Monday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Archers take on the Red Lions in the 6 p.m. nightcap with La Salle playing for a lot more.
Not only will a win allow the Archers to pull even with bitter UAAP rival Ateneo for the lead at 6- 0, but La Salle will also be shooting for a first win over the Lions, whom it hasn’t beaten ever since its former player, Robert Bolick Jr., transferred to Mendiola.
San Beda will be coming into the contest still licking the wounds of a two- game losing streak, the last happening on Friday when Javy Gomez de Liaño nailed the marginal basket in a 56- 54 upset loss to University of the Philippines.
The Lions were jetlagged in that game and are expected to have recovered somewhat for the tiff against the Archers.
San Beda also lost to Ateneo before the Lions went to the United States for training camp.
In other matches, new-look University of the East battles a Perpetual Help team in the 10 a.m. opener.
The Altas have looked disjointed all tournament long and have lost their first six games.
UE defeated National University, 78-74 on Friday, the Warriors’ first win over a UAAP squad in this tourney, to go to 3-4 in Group A play.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles also take the court, drawing another winless squad in the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the 12:30 p.m. match.
The Blue Eagles have done well even without the benefit of a full crew as some players continue to sit it out due to injuries or the fulfillment of academic requirements.
With EAC still missing center Laminou Hamadou, the odds are stacked against head coach Aris Sison’s troops.
In the lone Group B game, Far Eastern University, tied with College of St. Benilde and Adamson for the Group B lead at 5-1, takes on dangerous San Sebastian College in the 2:15 p.m. game.
Mapua looks to get back on the winning track after losing two consecutive matches, with the Gilas Cadets now standing in its way starting 4:30 p.m.