Lions, Tigers mix it up Sunday

University of Sto. Tomas and San Beda College face off in a much-awaited battle of senior varsity basketball champions to highlight an extravaganza called "Unity in Sports" celebrating the 21st anniversary of People Power at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday.

It will be the first meeting between the Growling Tigers and the Red Lions in Metro Manila after they squared off in two closely fought games in Aparri and Tuguegarao last week.

What’s creating a stir in cage circles is the question of who will coach San Beda in the contest. Koy Banal, who piloted the Lions to the NCAA crown this past season, is no longer with the team. A short list of at least three candidates to replace Banal is under study and former Bedan star Frankie Lim is reportedly a frontrunner.

A San Beda source said an announcement on the new coach may be made before Sunday’s game. Lions fans are expected to troop to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to welcome the new coach.

"Unity in Sports" project manager Bobong Velez of Reverie Communications Services said the extravaganza is being launched by the EDSA People Power Commission and the Spirit of EDSA Foundation in cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and the BAP-Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas through tourism assistant secretary Cynthia Carrion’s initiative. Sponsors are PLDT, Smart and Burger King.

Velez organized Reverie with business partner Dolores Cheng, who heads the 35-year-old Manprom advertising agency, last year. Its first undertaking was the highly successful New Year’s Party at Greenbelt II last month.

PLDT chairman and BAP-SBP president Manny Pangilinan and executive secretary Eduardo Ermita will open the afternoon program with keynote remarks. POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. and PSC chairman William Ramirez will grace the affair. The show will be televised live on NBN-4 from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission to the stadium is free.

A celebrity game will start the hostilities. Philip Salvador will be the playing coach of the Red Team whose players are Jestoni Alarcon, Onyok Velasco, Jordan Herrera, Gean Padilla, Ian Veneracion, Joko Diaz, Jimwel Stevens, Ace Espinosa and Jason Abalos. Tirso Cruz III is the playing coach of the White Team whose players are Christopher de Leon, James Blanco, Mark Fernandez, Bayani Agbayani, Zoren Legaspi, Carlos Morales, Jay Manalo, Emilio Garcia and Rayver Cruz. Each team will be bannered by two PBA reinforcements.

In between the two games and at the half of each contest, there will be exhibitions in taekwondo on synchronized poomse, ballroom dancing and sepak takraw and a joint ensemble performance by the Ateneo Glee Club and the De La Salle Inner Circle. Dingdong Dantes and James Deakens will be the emcees for the event.

Christopher Carrion, chairman of the 21st anniversary celebration of People Power, said the project aims to instill in the minds of Filipinos the need for solidarity to enable the country to move forward. "Sports is a good vehicle for the advancement of unity," said Carrion.

UST beat San Beda in a pair of out-of-town cliffhangers last week. The Lions, led by Nigerian Samuel Ekwe and Yousif Aljamal, are aching for revenge against the Tigers whose mainstays are Jojo Duncil and Jervy Cruz.

Bragging rights are up for grabs as the Tigers, the UAAP champions, and the Lions, the NCAA titlists, mix it up to decide who’s really No. 1 in varsity hoops.