NCAA hostilities resume today

With the bad weather gone and the elections over, the 78th NCAA basketball season resumes today after four consecutive cancellations with College of St. Benilde clashing with 2001 Final Four qualifier Mapua at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Blazers, the 2000 champions, gun for a third straight win against the Cardinals at 4 p.m. hoping to make a fitting follow-up to their 74-72 decision over defending champion San Sebastian Stags two weeks back.

The Altas and the Knights, who last won a crown three years ago when Purefoods’ Kerby Raymundo was still around, are likewise seeking to come out of a big group at second as the two collide in one of the two seniors’ matches at 2 p.m.

Letran has an edge in terms of firepower as it is expected to rely heavily on its two gunners Ronjay Enrile and Harold Sta. Maria

.dged host San Beda, 79-77, in overtime.

Attention, however, is expected to focus on the game between St. Benilde and Mapua, two teams expected to give reigning titlist San Sebastian a run for its money.

The Blazers, for one, have remained with players who are remnants from the champion squad of 2000 – Sunday Salvacion, Alex Magpayo, Ronald Capati, Jan Coching, Loreto Tolentino, Bernard Perlas, Titus Mendoza and Edward Castro.

Like Dong Vergaire’s boys, the Cardinals have a lot of players from last year’s roster – Roberto Lagar, Edsel Feliciano, Erwin Sta Maria, Christian Guevarra, Raymond Dula, Ryan Malig and 6’7" Gerald Roxas.

Riding the crest of its two straight wins, St. Benilde is fancied over Mapua but Vergaire would like to think otherwise. "Pareho lang kami ng lakas, ang lamang lang namin ay nakadalawang sunod na kami."