San Beda University will look to gain a share of the top spot with league-leading Mapua University when it takes on struggling Arellano University on Friday in NCAA Season 99 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The surging Red Lions will square off with the Chiefs at 2 p.m. while Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian College-Recoletos will tangle at 4 p.m. with both teams eyeing to regain their winning ways.
San Beda is the hottest team in the league right now, riding on an impressive four-game winning streak with rookie wingman Jomel Puno taking the spotlight as they took down JRU, Perpetual, San Sebastian, and EAC to sit at solo second spot at 7-2.
Puno, who starred with three straight double-double outings last week, was averaging 8.22 points, 9.22 rebounds, 0.89 assists, and 0.22 blocks.
However, the Red Lions aren't just about the Filipino-Canadian high-flyer.
In their bid to return to the finals after missing the championship round for two consecutive seasons, San Beda is also relying on veterans Jacob Cortez and Yukien Andrada as well as Peter Alfaro.
They will look to bag their eighth win against Arellano, which is coming off four straight losses. Ever since the Chiefs managed to pull off an 87-80 win against then winless Letran, the wards of rookie coach Chico Manabat have yet to duplicate that as they fell to EAC, Benilde, Mapua, and JRU to go 1-8.
In the second game, JRU and San Sebastian will both look to return to the win column.
The Heavy Bombers are fresh from an overtime loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University, the same school they outlasted in double overtime just a week before while the Stags are reeling from a three-game skid.
Currently, JRU is in a three-way tie at the fourth spot with Benilde and EAC at 6-4 while San Sebastian is third to the last with a 3-7 card.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
