Four more NCAA teams debut

MANILA—As new teams go, Lyceum expects a tough road ahead when it debuts in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament today.

But coach Bonnie Tan said his Pirates, admitted as a guest team just last summer, won’t get “a culture shock” when they take on the St. Benilde Blazers at 11:45 a.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.

“We know it will be difficult for us because we only learned [about our participation] last April,” said Tan.

“Our goal is just to stick to our system. I know the players might get a culture shock, so I just remind them that these are the same teams we play against during preseason games.”

St. Benilde coach Richard del Rosario expects his Blazers to have a more competitive run after finishing seventh last season.

Arellano and Emilio Aguinaldo College, also relative newcomers in the league, start their own campaign when they collide at 4 p.m.

Arellano coach Leo Isaac cited his team’s experience in the D-League as a key in their preparation although his Chiefs try to do without ace forward Isiah Ciriacruz for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

“We have a combination of rookies and veterans and I think we’ll still be one of the darkhorse teams,” said Isaac, who’s relying on Andrian Celada and Rocky Acidre.

New EAC coach Gerry Esplana, meanwhile, believes the Generals can do much better than their tailend finish last year where they mustered only two wins.

“We’ve improved defensively unlike last season when the team was giving 82 points to their opponents,” said Esplana.

Filipino-Americans Joshua Torralba, a 6-foot-2 guard and 6-foot-1 Igee King, the son of former PBA cager Abe King, are among the rookies to watch for the Generals.

Season 87 of the 10-school tournament kicked off last Saturday with defending champion San Beda, last year’s runner-up San Sebastian and Letran picking up opening-day victories.

Juniors action got going yesterday with the Staglets dumping the Light Bombers, 70-58, as Michael Calisaan buried 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

In the second game, McJour Luib had 21 points and Aldrin Serafica and Rey Nambatac added 17 each to lift the Squires past the Red Robins, 72-64.

The Pirates, the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association (ISAA) champion before joining the league, are bannered by Rich Guevarra and Jan Lacap.

“We have a small lineup, so we have to run,” said Tan. “Our focus is also on defense.”