WHILE some expected Arellano to pick up from its surprise run back in the NCAA Season 101, the Chiefs starting 3-0 to open S102 is truly a welcome surprise for fans of this school from Legarda.
And coach Chico Manabat has this ragtag crew of 'heroes and characters' to thank for.
Earlier this week, Manabat alluded to T-Mc Ongotan and Basti Valencia as his own 'Batman and Robin' and on its 88-65 rout of Perpetual, a slew of new heroes joined in on the tribe.
READ: Arellano runs over Perpetual to remain perfect in three games
After leading the team with 15 points built on three triples, Maverick Vinoya ceremonously hailed himself as Arellano’s 'Iron Man' on his way to the press room, but head coach Chico Manabat took it a step further.
“Siguro, like I said before, kung may Batman yung Robin, yung mga Minions, nagtrabaho sila coming off the bench talaga,” Manabat said.
The Minions were the likes of Anthony Borromeo, who had nine points and four boards, EJ Geronimo, who had eight and two assists, and even Renzo Abiera, who chipped in six on the way to claiming 31 bench points for the Chiefs as a whole.
“So ang pinaka-importante talaga yung togetherness, eh. Batman and Robin, sino man yan. Yung Minions talaga. Sila yung kanina bumuhay dun sa bench,” Manabat added.
Reinforcements have arrived for the Chiefs
In the past season, Arellano frequently hung their weight on the shoulders of Ongotan, and how far his improvement could take them.
And while Ongotan continues to work on his craft, evident with yet another brilliant start to the NCAA Season 102, Manabat believes that their best option to win is if the squad rises along with him.
And so far, its starting to look like the case.
“Maraming injuries, like I said before. So ngayon, ito yung chance naman namin na healthy kami. Isa-isa namin kung ano yung pwede namin maging weapon para sa mga kalaban namin na malalakas din," he said.
“Siguro ano, yung preparation yun ang pinaka nagbunga eh. So yung the will to prepare to win, yun yun. Naging consistent lang kami sa, hindi kami dati consistent. So yun yung trabaho ng mga bata.”
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