NCAA basketball season kicks off Saturday

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) kicks off its 82nd season on Saturday with the staging of the centerpiece basketball competitions among eight teams with varying characters but with the same goal — win the crown of the country’s oldest collegiate league.

Letran has been tagged as the team to beat this early, but with the graduation of the core of its champion squad, the Knights will be hard pressed to go for a second straight crown especially with practically the rest of the pack keeping their respective rosters intact.

"Everybody is in contention, but in terms of experience, Letran has the big edge because they’ve been in the finals in the last three seasons, winning two titles," said San Beda coach Koy Banal.

But Mel Alas, speaking in behalf of brother and Letran coach Louie, downplayed the Knights’ chances this year.

"If you will take a closer look at our line-up, only two of the members of our two championship teams were left," said Alas.

He was referring to Boyet Bautista and Aaron Aban, who played big roles in the Knights’ title romp in 2003 and 2005 and who would be seeing action for the Muralla-based squad for the last time.

Mark Andaya, Jonathan Aldave, Fred Rodriguez, JP Alcaraz and Jonathan Pinera played out their last tour of duty last season when the Knights beat the Philippine Christian University Dolphins in the finals for the crown.

Letran’s mettle will be tested early as the Knights take on the St. Benilde Blazers in the 2 p.m. opener of a heavy four-game bill at the Araneta Coliseum.

Using the theme "Proud and True at 82!" the country’s oldest league was ushered in by members of all participating schools in a press conference at the ELJ Building in Quezon City yesterday.

Former PBA chief Jun Bernardino is this year’s league commissioner, replacing Joe Lipa who is now coach of University of the Philippines in the UAAP league.

"There is no perfect officiating just like there’s no perfect game so I hope you bear with us," said Bernardino. "But this I can assure you, we will be fair and will favor no one."

But while the Knights will have to make do with new combinations, the rest of the competing teams will be relying on their veteran players, each hoping to come out strong and sustain the momentum for a crack at the championship.

Alex Angeles, Yousif Aljamal and the sophomore pair of Rogemar Menor and Jay-R Taganas will lead the Red Lions’ bid while Gabby Espinas, Beau Belga, Jason Castro and Ian Garrido are the players to watch in the Philippine Christian Univ. Dolphins’ side.

"All the teams have realistic chances of winning the title this year," said PCU mentor Junel Baculi, who steered the school to the 2004 NCAA crown.

Like PCU, Letran and San Beda, Mapua, St. Benilde, Perpetual Help and San Sebastian will be parading solid rosters.

The Carlos Garcia-coached Blazers boasts of the talented tandem of Kris Robles and Gerald Layug while the troika of Khiel Misa, Vladimir Joe and Conrad

Bauzon and the group of Kelvin dela Pena, Jofferson Gonzales, Raymund Tiongco, Jerby del Rosario and Hermes Sumalinog will spearhead Perpetual Help and Mapua’s bids, respectively.

San Sebastian, on the other hand, has the prolific Red Vicente and a new coach in Raymund Valenzona, son of veteran mentor Turo Valenzona.

Jose Rizal, in contrast, will banner a new coach in Ariel Vanguardia, Alas’ long-time assistant who was named to the post only yesterday following the resignation of Cris Calilan.

"I’m thankful to JRU for giving me a chance to coach for them," said Vanguardia.