INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion San Beda expects a tougher grind when the NCAA basketball competition rolls off on June 27 with a record 10 teams at the Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s going to be harder because there will be more games,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. “We get to play two to three times a week and that’s crucial to the campaign.”

Three more schools will see action in Season 85 of the country’s oldest varsity league after the NCAA invited Emilio Aguinaldo College, Arellano University and Angeles University Foundation to play as guest squads.

The Lions, who will miss the services of star players Ogie Menor, Pong Escobal and Nigerian Sam Ekwe this season, kick off their bid for a fourth straight championship against Mapua at 2 p.m. on opening day.

“Games will never be easy for us compared with the past two years,” said Lim. “All my starters graduated, so I think it’s going to be a tough year for us.”

Jose Rizal University, last season’s runner-up, takes on Letran at 4 p.m., followed by the 6 p.m nightcap between Perpetual Help and San Sebastian College.

The guest teams debut on June 29 with Angeles University Foundation battling St. Benilde at 2 p.m. and Emilio Aguinaldo College fighting Arellano University at 4 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

But if the summer tournaments are any indication, the Lions remain among the top seeds following a championship run in the 2009 Nike Summer League and a semifinal windup in the FilOil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup.

New recruit Sudan Daniel, the American rookie tabbed to fill the void left by two-time NCAA MVP Ekwe, is expected to lead the Lions’ charge along with JR Tecson, Dave Marcelo, Bam Gamalinda, Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual.

“Sudan will get better,” said Lim of the 6-foot-7 Daniel. “There’s no way but up. He can bring in domination, like what Ekwe gave us. He’ll be capable of doing that given the chance.”