San Beda begins title defense vs Lyceum to open NCAA Season 100

San Beda’s Yukien Andrada during a Final Four game against Lyceum in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Defending champion San Beda rekindles its Final Four rivalry with host Lyceum to officially raise the curtain on the NCAA’s centennial season on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Last year, the Red Lions upset the second-seeded Pirates in the Final Four before toppling the No. 1 Mapua Cardinals in the championship round.

Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan hopes the outcome in Season 99 serves as a motivator for his squad, which is hungry for redemption.

READ: NCAA: Lyceum boosts roster with Fil-Am recruits

“We want to bounce back from our losses last year and it’s a great motivation,” said Malabanan in Filipino during a press conference in Pasay on Tuesday.

“I see our team as a very competitive team right now.”

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta expects his team to be tested right away by Lyceum, which is coming off back-to-back semifinal appearances.

READ: NCAA: Yukien Andrada expected to be San Beda’s new top dog

“Every time we play Lyceum, it’s always a challenge for us. We know how hard and well coach Gilbert prepares his team,” said Escueta.

Aside from the San Beda-Lyceum clash, another rematch of last year’s Final Four matchup takes place between Mapua and College of St. Benilde.

The Cardinals, who went 15-3 in the elimination round last season, sent the Blazers home in the semifinals before falling to the Red Lions in a three-game final.

The games

LOOK: The first round schedule of the #NCAASeason100 men’s basketball tourney.

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— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) September 3, 2024

The league will have its usual game day schedules with doubleheaders happening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

All games in the first round–except the opening–will take place at San Juan Arena.

Longtime rivals San Beda and Letran, which is under new coach Allen Ricardo, meet for the first time in Season 100 on October 1.

In another marquee matchup, College of St. Benilde battles San Beda on September 10.

New Perpetual Help coach Olsen Racela, meanwhile, makes his NCAA coaching debut against JRU also on Sept. 10.

Capping off the first round is a rematch of the Season 99 finals between the Cardinals and Red Lions which will be the lone game set on October 8.