Lions gun for solo lead vs Pirates

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda, fresh from its escape act over  St. Benilde in Saturday’s opener, takes on unfancied Lyceum for the early solo lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City today.

The four-peat seeking Lions blew a 15-point lead and needed a perfectly executed alley-oop inbound play completed by Art dela Cruz off a pass from Rome dela Cruz in the dying seconds to pull off a 71-70 victory over the Blazers, highlighting the start of the 89th season of the country’s oldest collegiate league.

“There will be no easy games this season because all of the teams have really improved,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

Gametime is at 6 p.m.

The win was also special for Dela Rosa, a 22-year-old graduating marketing student who is looking for his fourth championship with the Mendiola-based squad.

The Lions are actually fancied to get past the Pirates, who, however, will be out to bounce back from last year’s forgettable 3-15 (win-loss) showing.

Jose Rizal and Mapua, meanwhile, make their debut in the 4 p.m. opener, with the winner joining the other opening day winner Letran, which turned back San Sebastian, 74-69.

The Vergel Meneses-coached Bombers have practically lost the whole team to graduation and will parade 11 rookies this season while the Cardinals retained just half of their last year’s team while acquiring a new coach in Atoy Co, a PBA legend.