Lions chase record 5-feat in 90th NCAA season

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda sets out for a record-equaling  five feat  in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament when Season 90 of the country’s oldest collegiate league unwraps on June 28 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

But the Red Lions will be without last year’s skipper Rome dela Rosa, who has completed his five-year stint, when they open their title drive against the host Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the first of two matches kicking off this year’s hostilities.

“We lost some players, including our team captain,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez in yesterday’s media launch of the league. â€œBut we retained the core of last year’s champion team and we hope that will help us make another run for the title.”

San Beda and JRU slug it out in the 1 p.m. opener with the Red Lions going all-out to extend their domination and join the ranks of the 1993-1997 champions San Sebastian Stags and the 1968-1972 Mapua Red Robins.

San Beda, which finished second to La Salle in the recent Filoil Flying V Cup, is also shooting for its eighth crown in the last nine years. The Red Lions also reigned from 2006-08.

Equally interesting is the 4 p.m. clash between last year’s runner up Letran and perennial title contender San Sebastian.

An elaborate opening rites is set at 11:30 a.m. to be highlighted by a production number centering on this year’s theme: “Today’s Heroes, Tomorrow’s Legends, NCAA@90: We Make History.”

Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum, the former on its fifth season and the latter on its second probationary year whose performances this year not just in basketball competitions but also in other sports events would decide if they will be accepted as regular members next season.

This year’s NCAA will also focus on Lyceum and Emilio Aguinaldo College which are both seeking regular membership.

Lyceum is playing its second probationary year while EAC is on its fifth season and their performances in all events this season will serve as basis for their acceptance.

Arellano U gained regular membership early this year after its impressive stints in various sports and after meeting all the requirements set the league.

The other league mainstays are Mapua, St. Benilde and Perpetual Help.

League president Dr. Vincent Fabella of Jose Rizal said the league also made some adjustment in its game schedule with seven seniors games a week instead of the traditional six-game week offering.

Fabella also said the Bombers, who last won the NCAA crown way back in 1972, will be going all out to end their long title drought.

“It’s one of the challenges but it’s not as difficult as everyone knows, we’ve made it.” the Final Four five times and made the finals twice in the last decade,” said Fabella. “We’re excited.”

“We are going to challenge everyone to show their true colors and hopefully it leads us to a slam bang season,” said Reyes.

Arturo “Bai” Cristobal is this year’s league commissioner.

Sports5 head Chot Reyes said all NCAA games will be shown live on TV 5 and affiliate channel Aksyon TV Channel 41 with matches to be played during Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Reyes said 2 p.m. weekday games will be televised live on Aksyon TV while 4 p.m. games will be simultaneously shown on TV5 and Aksyon TV. Weekend games set at 2:30 p.m. will be aired on TV5.