Games today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
10 a.m.- Jose Rizal vs AU (Jrs.)
11:45 a.m.- UPHDS vs AUF (Jrs.)
2 p.m.- Jose Rizal vs AU (Srs.)
4 p.m.- UPHDS vs AUF (Srs.)

Tied with the San Sebastian Stags on top on immaculate 3-0 (win-loss) records, the Bombers shoot for win No. 4 and solo first place against the Chiefs when they collide at 2 p.m. Perpetual Help, meanwhile, aims for its first win after dropping its first three matches while Angeles U Foundation targets to improve on its 1-2 card when the two collide at 4 p.m.

Arellano U, however, will not be easy picking as it has showed it can pull off surprises as evidenced by their shock 81-73 win over multi-titled Letran last July 1 that was one of their two wins in its first three games in the league as a guest team. It’s the same reason Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose team is tipped to finish strong again this season because of its intact roster, is constantly reminding his players not take Arellano lightly.

“I always tell my players to show respect to all the opponents we will face. Arellano is no exception,” said Vanguardia, who hopes he could steer his team to its first title since going all the way 37 years back. Vanguardia stressed that although the Chiefs are new to the league, they’ve been together as a team for years now. “AU is a veteran team in terms of being together as a team for the longest time. We lost to them in the finals of the Fr. Martins Cup two years ago with the same roster so we know how capable they can play as a unit,” said Vanguardia.

While Jose Rizal is coming off three straight wins including n 83-69 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo last Friday, Arellano is still licking its wounds following a painful 74-102 spanking at the hands of three-peat champion San Beda a week ago. But the Chiefs have probably forgotten that by now. “I just told them to focus on the game and forget that loss to San Beda,” said youthful Arellano mentor Junjie Ablan. Ablan said for the Chiefs to pull the rug from under the Bombers, they would need to contain, if not stop, John Wilson and James Sena. Wilson has been a menace in his first three games as he averaged a over 20 points a game while Sena has been chalking up double-double numbers in points and rebounds.
“We need to contain Wilson and Sena if we want to have a chance of winning,” said Ablan