With an almost intact lineup, the Stags are given a strong chance to retain the crown with the St. Benilde Blazers, the Philippine Christian University Dolphins and the Mapua Cardinals likely to provide the stiffest challenge.
The Stags open their title-retention campaign versus the Perpetual Help Altas at 8 p.m. The other games pit Mapua against Philippine Christian at 2 p.m., Letran versus San Beda at 4 p.m. and St. Benilde against Jose Rizal at 6 p.m. The first two games will be aired live over Studio 23 of ABS-CBN.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain will grace the opening ceremony scheduled at 1 p.m. He will be assisted by league officials led by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, president of the NCAA policy board, in tossing the ceremonial ball.
Mark Macapagal had played out his five years in the NCAA but old reliables Jam Alfad, Christian Coronel, Nicole Uy, Paul Reguerra, Roy Falcasantos and talented 6-foot-7 Fil-Am Clark Moore are back to defend the title they won over the Jose Rizal Bombers last year. — With report from Noli Cruz