Knights, Blazers clash in NCAA opener
THE oldest collegiate basketball league returns today, March 26, at the De La Salle Green Hills gym.
After a hiatus of more than two years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 97 senior’s basketball tournament tips off with a simple opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
Gametime begins at 3:30 p.m. with defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights taking on College of Saint Benilde Blazers followed by the game between Season 95 runner-up San Beda University Red Lions and Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates at 7:05 p.m.
Letran has been tagged as the early favorite to rule the season despite losing key players Jerrick Balanza, Bonbon Batiller, Larry Muyang and Ato Ular who all turned pro. The Knights, however, still have Fran Yu, the previous season’s Most Improved Player and Finals Most Valuable Player, to lead the way for the Bonnie Tan-mentored squad.
Yu will be backed by Jeo Ambohot, Kurt Reyson, Allen Mina and Tommy Olivario. The Knights also acquired Brent Paraiso and Rhenz Abando to give the team additional firepower.
The Blazers, who finished fifth in Season 95, are no pushovers.
While St. Benilde lost star guard Justin Gutang to the pros, as well as Yankee Haruna and the late Clement Leutcheu to graduation, the team is packed with new players eager to prove themselves.
Transferee Will Gozum, a former NCAA Junior MVP who played for two years with University of the Philippines in the UAAP, is expected to contribute heavily for the team this season.
Gozum, who stands at 6-foot-6, is set to man the paint together with 6-foot-9 sophomore Ladis Lepalam.
The Charles Tiu-mentored Blazers will also lean on holdovers Robi Nayve, Mark Sangco, Carlo Lim and transferee Jose Cullar from the University of the East.
In the second game, the Red Lions take on the Pirates.
San Beda is also considered a tournament favorite despite losing Evan Nelle, Donald Tankoua and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Calvin Oftana.
Season 95 MVP contender and third-year guard James Kwekuteye is still with the team together with JP Bahio and Damie Cuntapay. Blue chip rookies and ex-San Beda Red Cubs Rhayyan Amsali, Justine Sanchez and Tony Ynot beef up the team.
For Lyceum, it is going to be a total rebuilding mode for the Pirates who lost twins JV and JC Marcelino, Mike Nzesseu, and Reymar Caduyac and even coach Topex Robinson to the pros.
Bannering the squad this year are Season 95 Junior MVP John Barba and Mac Guadaña, who both led the Junior Pirates to a runner-up finish in 2019.
Coaching the team is Gilbert Malabanan.