NCAA 2001 will be ‘unpredictable to the very end’

The National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball season opens shop Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum with a promise of a balanced competition among eight member schools and the emergence of new faces touted to further stir up interest in the oldest collegiate league.

Philippine Christian University, host of the 77th staging of the annual event, vows to come up with a more exciting competition with PCU athletic moderator Rachab Cunanan predicting the NCAA games will be "unpredictable until the last minute."

"That’s because all NCAA teams underwent buildups during the off-season. Every other team has a chance for the crown. And even those without a legitimate center may pull off a surprise or two over the much-favored squads," said Cunanan in the yesterday’s launching of the event at the Green Planet Restaurant in Jupiter St., Makati.

Among the NCAA officials who attended the press conference are NCAA president and PCU president Dr. Oscar Suarez, NCAA policy and management board members Fr. Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB and Fr. Paul de Vera, OSB of San Beda, Fr. Constantino Real, OAR and Frank Gusi of San Sebastian, UPHR president Antonio Tamayo and athletic moderator Dr. Aljandro Dagdag, Fr. Edwin Lao, OP and Fr. Edgardo Alaurin, OP of Letran, Bro. Rolando Dizon, Henry Atayde and Mark Galino of College of St. Benilde, JRU president Atty. Jose D. Baltazar and Delfin Asistio, and Mapua president Dr. Reynaldo Vea and athletic coordinator Ding Lozano.

This year’s theme "Revitalizing the Heritage of Sports" focuses on the importance of amateurism, discipline and sportsmanship which were vital parts in NCAA’s contributions to Philippine sports.

Media Conglomerates, Inc. will telecast and market the NCAA games over PTV-4 through the facilities of Silverstar Communications, Inc.

Defending champion College of St. Benilde opens its title-retention bid against Letran, boasting of an intact lineup that includes Manuel Diloy III, Allan Capati, Alexander Magpayo, Sunday Salvacion and Jan Anthony Coching.

San Sebastian will be the team to watch as it acquired 6-foot-7 slotman Pep Moore who is expected to be backed up by Mark Macapagal, Christian Coronel, Nurramjam Alfad and Ricky Vinuya. — With report from Joey Villar