Beefed up mostly by players who saw action in the Philippine Basketball League, the Knights smashed last year’s runners-up the Perpetual Help Altas, 63-54, while the Cardinals, a team lacking in experience but oozing with talent, made key stops down the stretch to trounce the San Sebastian Stags, 81-70, both in Saturday’s inaugurals of the country’s oldest collegiate league.
The Cardinals hope to make two-in-a-row in their 2 p.m. encounter with the Heavy Bombers, who groped for form and fared miserably against a vastly-improved St. Benilde side, 47-79.
The Knights, on the other hand, face the San Beda Red Lions at 4 p.m., looking sharp against a squad composed of talented rookies from its champion high school squad but which bowed to defending champion Philippine Christian U, 50-68, on opening day.
Letran coach Louie Alas, however, doesn’t want to take the Red Lions lightly.
"They are stronger this year so we have to play really tough defense," said Alas, who steered the Muralla-based school to the 1998 and 2003 titles.
Just like the Knights, the Lions boast of players who saw action in the PBL, headed by big men Yousif Aljamal and Jerome Paterno, who will be backstopped by former junior standouts Jay-R Taganas and Rogemar Menor.
"We also need to pay special attention to San Beda’s rookies because they are capable of giving us problems," said Alas of Taganas and Menor, both MVPs of the last two NCAA high school seasons.
For Mapua coach Horacio Lim, defense will also play a crucial role.
"We thrive on playing pressure defense, it’s our main weapon," said Lim, who led the now disbanded Mapua High to five NCAA juniors crowns before taking the coaching reins in the seniors team.
Aside from their defense, focus will also be on rookie Kelvin dela Peña.
The sweet-shooting dela Peña, who played for Mt. Royale College in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, sizzled with 17 points in his debut, including nine from behind the arc in a superb effort that drew praises from Lim.
"He’s just what we needed considering we lost two key players from last year," said Lim referring to Erwin Sta. Maria and Christian Guevarra, who are now with reigning 2005 Unity Cup champion Welcoat Paints after serving a five-year tour of duty.