NCAA disbars  Aljamal

The NCAA is barring Yousif Aljamal from playing for San Beda in its game against Jose Rizal University in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament today after the Red Lions failed to inform the league that their prized cager would be joining the PBA rookie draft last Sunday.

“We just learned that the NCAA is not allowing Aljamal to play tomorrow (Wednesday),” said San Beda team manager Mukesh Advani. He admitted that the school did not seek any clearance from the NCAA for Aljamal to join the draft.

Aljamal was drafted eighth overall by Air21 but will suit up for Talk N Text due to a previous deal by the two ballclubs.

San Beda said it will ask the NCAA Mancom for reconsideration.

Otherwise, the Lions will play without one of their key players when they mix it up with the JRU Bombers in the 2 p.m. opener at The Arena in San Juan.

The third running Bombers are gunning for their sixth straight win and seventh overall in 10 games as they try to firm up their bid for a semis berth.

“It’s always tough playing San Beda because they’re not the defending champions for nothing,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia. “If we could play harder and show a lot of heart, we’ll have a chance against them.”

San Beda shows the way with an 8-1 mark while Letran is just a game behind with a 7-2 slate.

Meanwhile, Mapua, currently toting a 5-6 record, tries to keep its hold of fourth place as it faces also-ran St. Benilde (1-9) at 4 p.m.

The Cardinals are also on a three-game run as they moved from sixth to fourth with a 5-6 card heading into the crucial phase of the double round elims.

Led by Kelvin dela Peña, Mapua mowed down Letran, 89-82, last Aug. 8, blasted San Sebastian, 80-71, two days later and then smashed Perpetual Help, 83-64, last week.