Early chase of three-peat for Knights

MANILA, Philippines — The Letran Knights will have a chance at winning two NCAA crowns in less than a year.

The NCAA Season 97 champs are to wage an early chase of another title as Season 98 is reportedly commencing on Sept. 10.

It’s less than four months since the magnificent men from Muralla, Intramuros completed a perfect season to win the crown in the previous wars of the oldest collegiate league in the land.

In the opener where the venue has yet to be specified, Letran will battle host Emilio Aguinaldo College in a match to be followed by an equally interesting showdown between Season 97 runner-up Mapua and third-placer San Beda.

From a shortened Season 97 where teams played a single-round robin format and the novel play-in phase, the league will revert back to the double-round system.

EAC, as host, will then decide if it will return to the old Final Four set-up or keep the play-in format.

“It will be two rounds, EAC will decide what comes after,” a source told The STAR.

If the Knights could replicate their accomplishment last season, they would claim a three-peat feat, a 20th title overall and the distinction as the first team to win twice in a year span.

Using the traditional format, Season 98 could wrap up before November ends or early December.