INQUIRER Sports

GAMES SATURDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m.—Opening ceremonies
2 p.m.—San Beda vs Mapua
4 p.m.—Letran vs JRU
6 p.m.—Perpetual vs San Sebastian

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda coach Frankie Lim candidly admits that the 85th NCAA season might be the toughest yet for the Red Lions.

“It’s not going to be like the past years,” said Lim. “All my starters graduated so I think it’s going to be a tough year for us.”

The Lions’ drive for a fourth straight men’s basketball crown rolls off against the Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I told my players our keyword this year is ‘overachieve,’” said Lim, whose Lions lost three key players including two-time MVP Sam Ekwe.

The kickoff game of the country’s oldest collegiate league begins shortly after the opening ceremonies that will be keynoted by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

Ordinary flu
But speculations are rife that four members of the Lions have contracted the Influenza A(H1N1) virus and are expected to miss today’s game.

Team manager Mike Advani vehemently denied the rumors, although he admitted that some players were hit by ordinary flu and not the new virus in the past two weeks.

“It’s not true,” Advani told the Inquirer in a telephone interview Thursday. “We had some players who got sick because of flu, but not the (new) flu (virus). We are ready to defend the title.”

Advani did not name the players.

NCAA president Fr. Mat De Jesus of San Beda said the league is abiding with the guidelines set by the Department of Health and the Commission on Higher Education in dealing with the new virus.

American center Sudan Daniel, tipped to fill the role left by Ekwe, will join hands with Jake Pascual, Jay-R Taganas, Bam Gamalinda, Garvo Lanete, Chico Tirona and Borgie Hermida.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, are seeking a fifth straight Final Four stint with new coach Chito Victolero and last year’s rookie of the year Allan Mangahas, who’s expected to fill the void left by former MVP Kelvin dela Peña.

“I will need Mangahas not only to score but provide leadership in the team,” said Victolero. “Our strength has been our chemistry. I started with the team last February and they have started to adapt to my system, which puts emphasis on defense.”

Jose Rizal U, which lost to San Beda in last year’s final, plays Letran at 4 p.m. in a rematch of their highly physical Final Four meeting last season.

The Heavy Bombers have been installed as the preseason favorite with almost its entire roster from last season coming back to help give the squad its first NCAA crown since 1972.

Veteran-laden
“We may have a veteran-laden line-up but it’s not going to be easy,” said JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia, who will rely on JR Sena, Marc Cagoco, Marvin Hayes and 6-foot-7 Cameroonian rookie Etame Joe.

Letran will have RP developmental pool standouts RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra to power its bid.

The Knights have eight rookies in their fold, including coach Louie Alas’ sons Kevin and Junjun.

“My rookies really need to step up,” said Alas.

Capping the three-game bill on opening-day is the duel between Perpetual Help and another pre-tournament pick, San Sebastian, at 6 p.m.

The game will also pit new coaches in Ato Agustin of the Stags and Boris Aldeguer of the Altas.

An impressive pre-season run, including runner-up finishes in the Nike Summer League and the Fr. Martin Cup, has installed the Stags among the early favorites.

“I’m not pressuring any of them,” said Agustin, one of the 25 all-time best pro players named by the Philippine Basketball Association.

“Our initial goal is just to make it to the Final Four.”

The Stags, who lost a handful of players including Jason Ballesteros, will rely on Jimbo Aquino, Gilbert Bulawan and Raymond Maconocido.

An exodus of players also hit the Altas, who will now turn to Raffy Ynion and Nathaniel Salanga.

“We are a very young team,” said first-time collegiate coach Aldeguer. “We lost a lot of veterans so it’s more of a learning experience this season. But expect us to play our hearts out.”

Guest squads Arellano University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Angeles University Foundation—whose entry raised the number of competing teams to a record 10—will debut on the second playing date of the league on June 29 at The Arena in San Juan.