90th NCAA: Lions roaring to make history

MANILA, Philippines - The National Collegiate Athletic Association officially kicks off the country’s college basketball season today with San Beda setting out for a rare feat as the league’s 90th season opens with a theme “Today’s Heroes, Tomorrow’s Legends. Season 90: We Make History.”

With only skipper Rome de la Rosa out of the team after playing out his eligibility, the Red Lions will be going for their fifth straight championship in the seniors division, a feat last achieved by San Sebastian in 1993-97, with a practically intact roster.

For sure, the rest of the 10 competing teams will be out to spoil San Beda’s crack at cage immortality, including last year’s runner-up Letran, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal University, Perpetual Help, St. Benilde, Arellano and Mapua.

Focus will also be on Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum, two other teams going all out to impress, not just in basketball but in other sports as well as they seek regular membership by end of the season.

An opening number depicting this year’s theme will usher in the tournament at 11:30 a.m. followed by a pair of matches pitting San Beda versus Jose Rizal U at 1 p.m. and last year’s runner-up Letran agains at San Sebastian at 3 p.m. at MOA arena in Pasay City.

“It’s going to be a number to remember, which is a fitting prelude to what we expect to be an exciting 90th NCAA season,” said league and host Jose Rizal president Dr. Vincent Fabella and Management Committee chair Paul Supan.

“We’re ready for Season 90 and we expect nothing less than a spectacular year,” said Supan, also Jose Rizal’s athletic director.

Lions going for rare five-Peat

The Red Lions remain the team to beat after retaining the core of its championship team, losing only Rome dela Rosa . 

Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun will still be the key player for San Beda, which also boasts of the likes of Baser Amer, Arthur dela Cruz, Anthony Semerad and Ryusei Koga.

San Beda finished second to La Salle in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup last summer, which also featured the other NCAA squads, further boosting its confidence to complete a five-peat and extend its dynasty.

Knights could make it with guarded optimism

The Knights will be without Raymond Almazan and Jonathan Belorio, leaving Jamil Gabawan, Reneford Ruaya and Reynaldo Publico Jr. to patrol the shaded lane and control the boards.

But Letran is expected to make up with its guard roster anchored on the talented backcourt troika of Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal and Rey Nambatac.

The Muralla-based squad also hopes to draw big games from Fidel Castro, Von Tambeling, McJour Luib and Israel-born neophyte Felix Apreku, Jr., who could provide a solid back-up at the point for Cruz.

Stags shock-troopers to shine

The Stags should contend on the strength of their seasoned starters Jovit dela Cruz, Bradwyn Guinto, Jaymar Perez and Jamil Ortouste, who carried the team to the Final Four despite losing their awesome threesome of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual.

Bobby Baculanag should take up the starting spot left by Fil-Am Leo De Vera, who played his only season with San Sebastian last year.

Stags coach Topex Robinson, however, stressed the need for his bench to step up, expecting some solid outing from rookies Michael Calisaan, Ryan Costelo, Jerick Fabian, Justine Mercado, Spencer Petta, Jeffrey Santos and Rhanzelle Yong.

Altas confident of staying power

Since multi-titled mentor Aric del Rosario came on board two years ago, the Altas have made it to the Final Four two straight seasons after instilling discipline and a belief of winning to a team that was used to finish at the bottom.

It will be no different this year as del Rosario vowed to steer Perpetual Help to another impressive showing with a virtually solid roster headed by the high-scoring Juneric Baloria, who sizzled with 41 points against La Salle in the Filoil Flying V tournament last summer.

Justine Alano, Harold Arboleda, Joel Jolangcob, Earl Scottie Thompson, and the fast-rising frontcourt tandem of Nestor Bantayan Jr. and Kevin Lucente could also be the reason why del Rosario is upbeat of his wards’ chances.

Generals see happi ending

EAC is the only team which boasts of a player who can contain the 6-8 Adeogun of San Beda in 6-7 Cameroonian Noube Happi, who coach Gerry Esplana hopes will also provide the leadership and inspiration to his team led by veterans Jan Jamon, Jack Arquero, Igee King, Sidney Onqwubere and John Tayongtong.

The Generals also expect to spring a surprise or two from rookie Joshua General, who they acquired from University of the Phl Integrated School.

Pirates to raid lairs of top teams

The Pirates will also parade an almost intact roster, having kept Wilson Baltazar, Shane Ko, Triso Lesmoras Jr., Jeremiah Taladua, Dexter Zamora and Cameroon’s Issah Mbomiko, who are all raring to showcase their talent and skills honed up by last year’s experience when they finished sixth – their best performance since entering the league three years ago.

Mbomiko, an undersized big man, should remain the team leader although he will have to split his playing time with new Cameroonian recruit in 6-6 Essono Mbida.

Vets hope to make Chiefs NO. 1

The Chiefs have brought in a new coach in Jerry Codiñera, who is expected to put more emphasis on defense, being a top defensive player during his prime.

Aside from a cast of veterans Keith Agovida, John Pinto, Nichole Bangga, Julius Cadavis, Prince Caperal, Levi Hernandez, Zach Nicholls and Ralph Salcedo, the Chiefs recruited Fil-Ams Dioncee Holts and David Ortega and convinced Isiah Ciriacruz to return after a three-year hiatus.

Holts and Ortega should beef up Arellano U’s bench while Ciriacruz, who suited up the school’s first two seasons in the NCAA, could be an extra offensive threat.

Add these together and the Chiefs should crash into the Final Four for the first time since it joined the league five years ago.

Bombers to explode from long spell

The host school has lots of reasons to be optimistic for this year’s campaign after a surprise quarterfinals finish in the Filoil Flying V last summer, highlighted by a smashing victory over the powerhouse La Salle side.

Michael Mabulac, Philip Paniamogan, and Jaypee Asuncion should be the Bombers’ main men when they go all out to end a long title spell.

Jose Rizal, which last tasted the NCAA crown way back in 1972, will also parade a hefty Ghanain import in AndulRazak AbdulWahab, who hopes to make full use of his defensive ability to slow down the other African reinforcements like Adeogun and Happi.

Blazers out to shed heartbreak tag

The Blazers are out to shed off the “Heartbreak Kid” tag after losing a lot of close games they could have won. In fact, St. Benilde lost six games in the first round by an average  margin of three points a game, including a pair of one-point setbacks and three two-point defeats.

With high scoring wing men in Mark Romero, Juan Paolo Taha, Jonathan Grey and Luis Sinco. Blazers coach Gabby Velasco hopes to rebound strong from last year’s experience and make the most of their chances this year. 

“It’s an inspiration for us to succeed this year,” said Velasco.

no way to go but up for Cardinals

The Cardinals are coming off their worst season in decades after finishing dead last last year with a forgettable 2-16 (win-loss) record.

But Mapua coach Atoy Co opted to let go of the Africans, lost last year’s best player Kenneth Ighalo to graduation, saw Mark Brana strike off of the lineup due to academics and watched Josan Nimes sustain a knee injury.

Mapua will thus have to make do with Andrew Estrella, Joseph Eriobu, Carlos Isit, Darrel Magsigay, Jessie Saitanan and a talented rookie in Justine Serrano.

But Co, one of the PBA’s 25 greatest, has made it simple for his wards, saying their goal is to improve from last year. Indeed, there is no other way to go but up for the Cardinals despite their depleted roster.