Joe Arbitello will coach Christ the King in the CHSAA AA city title game today, but knows there’s a chance it could be his last on the sidelines with the Royals.
“I haven’t given any thought to next year,” said Arbitello, whose team, led by senior Sean Johnson, will face Rice and Miami-bound Durand Scott today at 3 p.m. at Fordham University. “I’m just trying to get through this one.”
He took over the program on an interim basis after Bob Oliva took a leave of absence in October, citing health reasons after being accused of sexual abuse. Oliva later resigned, but that doesn’t mean Arbitello is coming back.
“We have to open the position up to the faculty,” said Arbitello, also the school’s athletic director and the father of a four-month-old daughter. “And I have to decide if I want to do this again.”
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In the PSAL, top-seeded Lincoln will try to get back to Madison Square Garden today at 5 p.m. at Carnesecca Arena, when it faces No. 4 Boys & Girls in the semifinals, in a rematch of the last two title games. No. 2 Kennedy faces third-seeded Jefferson in the other semifinal.
In the girls’ bracket, No. 4 Jefferson – coached by Pearl Washington – meets 10-time defending champs Bergtraum, the No. 1 seed and No. 6 JFK plays No. 2 South Shore.