Altas gun for skid-halting win over Chiefs in San Juan

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
CURRENTLY right smack in a campaign-hampering losing skid, the Perpetual Help Altas try to wiggle out of it when they take on the Arellano Chiefs in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Losers of their last three games after winning five of its first seven matches in the ongoing season, the Altas (5-5), the Season 94 hosts, try to go back on the winning track in their 4 p.m. match with the Chiefs (4-6).
The most recent of Perpetual Help’s losses came at the hands of College of Saint Benilde, 91-87, on Sept. 6.
In said game, the Altas rode on the career game of Prince Eze, who finished with 36 points and 17 rebounds, but it was not enough to tow his team to the victory.
Perpetual Help continued to miss the services of floor general Edgar Charcos, something the team is seemingly having a hard time adjusting to.
Charcos, who is averaging 17 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals before hurting his knee at the tailend of the first round, has missed his team’s last three matches which had all been losses.
Out to add to the misery of the Altas, meanwhile, are the Chiefs, who were tripped in their last game by the Letran Knights, 99-82, on Sept. 6.
Arellano kept in step with Letran for much of the contest but faltered in the end to begin its second-round bid on the off foot.
Michael Canete and Archie Concepcion led the way for the Chiefs with 17 points apiece.
With the loss, Arellano lost further ground in their attempt to hitch a ride for the playoffs midway into the tournament.
Playing in the 2 p.m. game are the College of Saint Benilde Blazers (7-4) and the Mapua Cardinals (3-8).
Today’s double-header marks the return of the NCAA after games on Friday, Sept. 14, were postponed because of Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut), which wreaked havoc with strong winds and gust to much of Luzon.