Some say good luck comes in threes, and the surprising Perpetual Help Altas will hope luck continues to be on their side when they battle San Sebastian Monday as the 88th season of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament continues.
The Altas and the Stags face off at 4 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Arena, right before the battle between the rejuvenated San Beda Red Lions and the struggling Lyceum Pirates at 6 p.m.
Perpetual and San Sebastian are both coming off big wins last Saturday. The Altas shocked the Letran Knights, 69-66, while the Stags survived a dangerous College of Saint Benilde squad, 95-93.
The Altas remained undefeated for the season under new coach Aric del Rosario. They are expected to once again rely on Earl Thompson, who will turn 19 on July 12, as well as Jett Vidal, Joel Jolangcob, and the Nigerian pair of Femi Babayemi and Nosa Omorogbe.
The Stags will again bank on the leadership of Calvin Abueva, who is coming off a monster 23-point, 23-rebound performance against the Blazers.
In the other match, the Red Lions will have eight players back in their fold after serving out one-game suspensions for their respective roles in a melee in an NCAA volleyball game last year.
Playing their first game this season are Rome Dela Rosa, Baser Amer, Anjo Caram, Melo Lim, Kyle Pascual, Jaypee Mendoza, Jake Pascual and Ryusei Koga.
They will join the Super Six of Francis Abarcar, Ritchie Villaruz, Jun Bonsubre, Yvan Ludovice, Art Dela Cruz and Dave Moralde, who pulled off a stunning victory last week against the Arellano Chiefs.
The Red Lions are expected to pounce on the Pirates, who have lost each of their first two games against Benilde and Perpetual.
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