Letran Squires battle Red Cubs as NCAA junior hostilities get underway

A day after the seniors displayed their wares at the Araneta Coliseum, National Collegiate Athletic Association’s junior cagers take center stage in today’s start of the high school basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Defending champion Letran is out to defend the title it won from Mapua Tech last season as it takes on traditional high school powerhouse San Beda College in the finale of the heavy four-game bill at 6 p.m.

Last year’s MVP Jay Ar Reyes and the sweet-shooting JC Intal will not be around this year to lead the Squires to a back-to-back title. Reyes went to the University of the Philippines Maroons while Intal had joined the Ateneo Blue Eagles in this year’s UAAP season.

Other games pit 2000 titlist Mapua Tech versus Philippine Christian University at 11:30 a.m., College of St. Benilde against Jose Rizal at 2 p.m. and University of Perpetual Help versus San Sebastian at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, defending seniors champion San Sebastian College opened its title-retention bid with a bang after it pummeled UPHR, 74-65, late Saturday.

Mapua Institute of Technology, Letran College and College of St. Benilde, certified challengers to SSC, have also picked up impressive victories on opening day.

The Cardinals, who made it to the Final Four last year, came back from 19 points down to beat the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, 74-68, while the Knights downed the host San Beda Red Lions, 69-64.

The Blazers, the 2000 champions, on the other hand, blasted last year’s runners-up the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 82-67.