No CJ Perez for Pirates in Game 1

Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 2 p.m. – LSGH vs Mapua (Jrs) 4 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum (Srs)

Take your pick: Lions on the loose or shorthanded Pirates on a pillaging spree? San Beda and Lyceum start another chapter in their championship rivalry when the NCAA men’s basketball title series fires off today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Game is at 4 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s finals with the two teams aching to draw first blood in the best-of-three affair which took a sudden twist yesterday when the NCAA Management Committee suspended Lyceum star CJ Perez a game for failing to inform the league in writing of his PBA draft application last week.

According to NCAA rules, student-athletes who fail to do so will be disqualified for the rest of the season.

NCAA and Lyceum officials reached a compromise, however, that allowed Perez to escape with a lesser penalty.

The NCAA Policy Board later upheld the decision during an emergency meeting.

A released statement said: Perez “violated Section 2.1.2.12 of the NCAA rules which provides that an athlete may avail/apply for draft in the professional league provided that he must inform the ManCom in writing and duly endorsed by their school representative to the ManCom. “Mr. Perez only informed NCAA of his application days after he submitted it to the PBA.” Perez, born to Filipino parents in Hong Kong, was classified as a “Fil-foreigner” under PBA rules and submitted his application to beat the Oct. 29 deadline. While the absence of Perez appears to favor SBU, Lions coach Boyet Fernandez thinks otherwise. “We prepared with CJ in lineup, but with this development, we will make some adjustments tomorrow during game time,” said Fernandez.