Red Lions going all-Pinoy as NCAA Season 87 kicks off Saturday

MANILA—San Beda goes all-Filipino for the first time in six years when Season 87 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association rolls off this Saturday with a grand opening ceremony featuring boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

With the Red Lions resigned to playing without injured American star Sudan Daniel, guest team Lyceum hopes to create an impact in its debut and host Perpetual Help tries to stay focused even after the recent resignation of head coach Boris Aldeguer.

“It will be a big challenge for the team,” said coach Frankie Lim of his Lions, who are vying for their second crown minus Daniel, the MVP last season who was recently sidelined for good by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

“I’m not saying that we have a weak lineup, but we’re not as strong as last year,” Lim added.

The 10-team varsity league gets going with a ceremony featuring Pacquiao as keynote speaker starting at 1 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Manny will definitely inspire our athletes to dream big and be a champion,” Anthony Tamayo, president of host University of Perpetual Help, said during a press conference yesterday at the ABS-CBN compound.

Perpetual Help also vows to wage a decent campaign even after the resignation of Aldeguer just a few days before the opener.

Aldeguer reportedly resigned after the league didn’t clear 6-foot-5 recruit Paul Nuilan to play this season.

“It’s a decision we have to accept,” said interim coach Jimwel Gican. “We’ll just continue the system of coach Boris.”

The Lions, bannered by Garvo Lanete and Dave Marcelo, battle the Altas at 2 p.m., followed by the 4 p.m. duel between last year’s runner-up San Sebastian and Jose Rizal.

Mapua, which parades  6-8 Filipino-Palestinian Yousef Taha, battles Letran at 6 p.m.

“We’re ready for this season,” said Mapua coach Chito Victolero.