Contenders to fire off NCAA Season 100 basketball hostilities

Games Saturday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

12 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies

2:30 p.m. - San Beda vs LPU

5 p.m. - Mapua vs CSB

MANILA, Philippines -- Four teams that are expected to contend will face off right at the start of the NCAA’s historic centennial season with reigning titlist San Beda battling Lyceum of the Philippines and last year’s runner up Mapua clashing with third-placer College of St. Benilde Saturday before an expected mammoth Mall of Asia Arena crowd.

The Lions overachieved a season ago when they defied expectations and slew the big guns including the fancied Mapua Cardinals in capturing their 23rd senior basketball crown, a league record.

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said he expects the competition to keenly watch them being the defending champions.

“Unlike last year, everybody is now looking at us and we’ll try to prepare for them and give them a fight,” said Escueta, who has bestowed the team captainship to three-point-shooting forward Yulkien Andrada after Jacob Cortez transferred to La Salle.

Andrada was one of the key championship pieces that stayed alongside rebounding demon Romel Puno and defensive cog James Payosing.

They will have their hands full against the Pirates, who have kept most of their standouts from a season ago, in their 2:30 p.m. duel.

“We’re excited and ready to compete again,” said Malabanan, whose team finished fourth in Season 99.

Mapua and College of St. Benilde too will launch their quest for the championship as they face off at 5 p.m.

“Susubukan ulet namin kunin this year,” said Mapua mentor Randy Alcantara, whose Cardinals came one win away from claiming its first title since winning it all 33 years ago.

Reigning MVP Clint Escamis is expected to carry most of the burden after Warren Bonifacio and Pao Hernandez left for the pros and should be the player to watch in the league.

For the Blazers, they hope to finish better than third place despite coming in with practically a new-look squad.

“Only four holdovers from last year in our active line up. We face a tough test immediately in finalist Mapua, but hopefully we can pull off an upset,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu, who will parade three of their best recruits in Allen Liwag, Justin Sanchez and Tony Ynot.