Altas coach part ways with team before NCAA opening

MANILA—As the NCAA Season 87 kicks off, a coach exits

Mentor Boris Aldeguer is leaving the Perpetual Help men’s basketball team.

The news was confirmed on Monday by the NCAA policy board Chair Antonio Tamayo, who also serves as the team’s president, at the Season 87 press conference.

“Our previous coach (Aldeguer) has resigned. With regret the university has to accept his resignation,” said Tamayo.

There’s still no official word on what prompted Aldeguer’s abrupt resignation, but sources say it was because of the non-inclusion of the team’s key player in the official line-up approved by the NCAA board.

Jimwell Gican, who served as an assistant coach for Aldeguer, will take over the reigns for the Altas.

Aldeguer spent three seasons with the Perpetual Help, which finished last season with a 2-14 slate.

San Beda, which will miss the services of reigning MVP Sudan Daniel due to a season-ending ACL injury, will open its bid for a back-to-back title against Perpetual Help.

“We’re not as strong as last year,” admitted San Beda coach Frankie Lim, whose squad took the Season 86 plum via a historical 18-game sweep.

Last year’s runners up San Sebastian will clash with Jose Rizal University at the 4pm game, while much-improved Mapua will slug-it-out with gritty Letran to complete a three-match bill.

Meanwhile, pound-for-pound king, and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, will grace the league’s opening ceremonies on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.