NCAA unfolds; Golden Stags, Red Lions stay upbeat

Games July 2 (Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m.—Opening ceremony
2 p.m.—San Beda vs Perpetual Help (Srs)
4 p.m.—San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (Srs)
6 p.m.—Mapua vs Letran (Srs)

Photo by Jan Dizon

MANILA—The absence of key players won’t translate into an absence of confidence for defending champion San Beda and last year’s runner-up San Sebastian.

Hoping to show that they’re still title-ready, the Lions and the Stags go for a strong start against separate foes today when the NCAA men’s basketball tournament starts at the Araneta Coliseum.

Season 87 of the country’s oldest varsity league kicks off with a 1 p.m. opening ceremony featuring eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as guest of honor.

Despite losing last year’s MVP Sudan Daniel to injury, coach Frankie Lim knows his Lions remain a favorite against host Perpetual Help in the opener of the three-game bill at 2 p.m.

“We’re not as strong as last year because we don’t have Sudan, so we just have to work with what we have,” said Lim. “But my belief is we’re good. We have the materials—we have our bigs, our shooters, a good point guard—so we’ll still be fighting.”

The Stags, who take on Jose Rizal University at 4 p.m., also need to deal with a new coach in Topex Robinson and the suspension of star Calvin Abueva.

Mapua, another early favorite with the recruitment of 6-foot-7 Filipino-Palestinian Yousef Taha, takes on Letran at 6 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity for the other players to step up,” Robinson said, referring to the absence of Abueva, who will serve a one-game suspension for the three flagrant fouls he incurred last season, the last two during the title series.

Robinson came on board less than a week before the inaugural tip-off and replaced his former Stags mentor Turo Valenzona, who will serve as consultant.

The Lions, meanwhile, will need to double their effort with the American Daniel out for the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.