TRUTH be told, Arellano is far from the top of mind when talking about NCAA contenders.
But in the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, the Chiefs proved just about everybody wrong by barging into the quarterfinals as the Grand Old League's No. 4 team - ahead of longtime power San Beda, perennial Final Four contender Lyceum, and even defending champion Mapua.
"Nalaman namin na kaya naman pala. Lahat ng tinatrabaho namin, nagbubunga na," head coach Chico Manabat told SPIN.ph.
Come the quarterfinals, Arellano got paired with UAAP top seed and then-unbeaten La Salle, and the former kept in step with the latter in the first half.
READ: Topex says NCAA just proved it can still hang with UAAP
Of course, the fully loaded Green Archers turned it on in the third quarter en route to an 18-point win, just as the Chiefs ran out of gas.
Still, the surprise playoff run, that included victories vs. the Cardinals and Red Lions, as well as the competitive showing against the Green Archers proved that Arellano is well on its way.
To where, you ask? To legitimate contention, of course.
“Sa amin, malaking boost lahat 'to. Nakita naming yung tinatrabaho namin, tama, yung program namin, tama,” said Manabat.
No fail for the Chiefs
With all the pieces coming together to create a perfect picture for the Legarda-based squad, Manabat couldn’t help but hope they could bring this energy straight to the upcoming Season 101.
“Sa next season, sana, makatagos din kami as one of the NCAA's top contenders,” he said. “We believe in time, magko-compete din kami.”
The Chiefs have had to endure seven long seasons of not qualifying for the NCAA Final Four.
But as they just proved in ending a nine-year playoff drought in Filoil Preseason, this present lineup of theirs knows a thing or two about exceeding expectations.
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