No easy season for Lions, Pirates
IF
the opening games of the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) 94th season last Saturday were rematch for the San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates could be easier said than done. Twotime defending champion SBU looked shaky throughout the curtain raiser game versus host University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD), and barely escaped with the 67-65win, kick to hack out the come- frombehind 85- 80 triumph over San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) at the Mall of Asia Arena.
While many still consider the Lions and Pirates as the top contenders this season, this corner has always declared that Season 94 will be highly unpredictable, as teams have improved vastly since last year. Last Saturday’s NCAA men’s basketball kick-off was supposed to be one-sided for both SBU and LPU as both squads paraded almost intact rosters since they year. But both schools struggled against teams that lost key players from Season 93 before securing the W. The Perpetual Help Altas no longer have Gab Dagangon, GJ Ylagan and Keith Pido, while the San Sebastian Stags, with just a month before Season 94, had some of their main guys bolting the team like Renzo Navarro, Ryan Costelo and Jayson David. But both the Altas and Stags gave their more touted opponents a run for their money on opening day.
San Beda and Lyceum remain the teams to beat as most of their stars return to the NCAA battleground for another tour of duty. The Lions still have Gilas Cadet members Robert Bolick Jr. and Donald Tankoua, who will all be donning the Red and White colors for the last time this season. They’re still, without a doubt, the deepest and most talented collegiate team in the land, especially with the addition of promising rookies 6’9” Nigerian forward Toba Eugene, former NCAA juniors hotshots Evan Nelle and Damie Cuntapay, and Fil-Canadian sensation James Canlas Kwekuteye. But on Saturday, the Lions looked a bit stiff and graceless, relying mostly on the one-onone skills of Mocon, steady foul shots of Bolick, and a surprise three-point bank assists the entire game, a far cry from their 19 assists per game last year. LPU, on the center Mike Nzeusseu, the Marcelino They swept the elims with these guys versus perennial champion San Beda. Plus, they have added size in former Stag Rhanzelle Yong. But the Pirates needed clutch baskets in endgame to prevent the upset loss to the rookie-laden SSC-R side. Could it be just a case of opening the part of both leading squads?
Whatever the reasons are, LPU and SBU will undeniably have their hands full as we haven’t even seen some of the perceived contenders and dark horses in Season 94. Traditional NCAA contenders Letran Knights are also coming in this tournament with much optimism, and for good reason. They’re no longer the crew that relies on their starting unit. This year, Bong Quinto, JP Calvo, Jerrick Ballanza and Jeo Ambohot have enough support in - tian Fajarito, Bonbon Batiller and Fran Yu. This team now has bench depth and size, some of the missing ingredients from last year’s menu. The other school that looks promising is - ured prominently in the Fil Oil Cup, even making it to the semis for the Blazers showed a lot of intensity and potential, making waves with their relentless pressure defense and uptempo style of play. Plus, they have a gem of a rookie in 6’3” Fil-American Justin Gutang.
The way it looks, six teams will be in the mix for the Season 94 Final Four. Don’t sleep on the NCAA this year.