NCAA goes head-on with rival UAAP

MANILA, Philippines - The 88th NCAA basketball season unwraps Saturday with host Letran out to regain lost glory and title contender San Sebastian seeking redemption – and the league putting up a determined stand to go head-on with rival UAAP in playdates with a new television partner.

The Knights, shooting for their first championship since going all the way seven years ago, kick off their title drive against the Stags, chasing for the crown they last won two seasons back, at 5 p.m. while the Jose Rizal Bombers and Mapua Cardinals collide in the 7 p.m. main game.

The pair of matches, which will be preceded by an elaborate opening rites highlighted by the parade of all 10 participating teams, will be televised live on AKTV on IBC 13, the league’s new television carrier for the next three years after a decade-long stint with former partner Studio 23.

Interestingly, the NCAA has changed its playdates from the traditional Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedules to Monday, Thursday and Saturday with some Sunday afternoon matches in direct clash with the UAAP, which has been holding its games on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for years.

“Expect a new beginning, new hopes and new challenges this season as we’ve undergone so many recent changes,” said league president Fr. Tamerlane Lana, OP, of host Letran in yesterday’s media launch at the Gateway Suites where he was joined by heads and representatives of all member schools.

Aside from TV carrier and playdate changes, the league is also implementing another innovation – staging out-of-town games.

“We’re still finalizing everything but for sure we will have out-of-town games this season for us to reach to our fan base from the provinces,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Fr. Vic Calvo, OP.

Joe Lipa is the league commissioner with Arturo “Bai” Cristobal as his assistant and Romy Guevarra as league technical director.

Defending champion San Beda opens its campaign the next day at 2 p.m., taking on a vastly-improved Arellano U side at The Arena in San Juan City, which will be the home of most elimination round games.

The Lions, however, are playing with just six players, namely transferee Art dela Cruz, sophomore Christian Dave Moralde and rookies Francis Abarcar, Antonio Bonsubre, John Mark Ludovice and Ritchie Villaruz as the rest of the team members have been suspended for as many as four games for their involvement in last year’s brawl among the SBC cagers and the San Sebastian volley players.

Nigerian rookie center Olaide Adeogun is serving a four-game suspension while Baser Amer, Anjo Caram, Rome dela Rosa, Ryussei Koga, Carmelo Lim, Jaypee Mendoza, Jake Pascual, Kyle Pascual and Michole Sorela have one-game suspension apiece.

Letran and San Beda lead with most senior basketball championships with 16 apiece with the Lions winning five of the last six championships.

“It’s going to be as tough as before but we will do our best to end the drought this season,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.

St. Benilde and Lyceum, coached by Richard del Rosario and Boni Tan, respectively, will strut their wares at 4 p.m. on Monday while Emilio Aguinaldo, mentored by Gerry Esplana, debuts against a Koy Banal-coached Arellano U at 6 p.m. also at The Arena.

Perpetual Help, now handled by former UST champion coach Aric del Rosario and reinforced by a pair of tall and strong Africans, will debut on Thursday versus Lyceum also at The Arena.

“I’m excited to back coaching again,” said del Rosario, who has won a four-peat feat with the Tigers in the UAAP in the 90s and one with the Pampanga Dragons in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball League late in the same decade.