San Beda opens NCAA title retention bid vs Mapua
06/26/2009 | 08:05 PM
MANILA, Philippines – San Beda College’s quest for a fourth straight NCAA basketball crown begins Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum when they face Mapua in the opening of the league’s 85th season.
The Red Lions will face the Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. after the hour-long opening ceremonies prepared by host San Beda.
Other opening day games will have last year's runner up Jose Rizal University facing Letran College at 4:00 p.m. followed by the San Sebastian-Perpetual Help 6:00 p.m. match.
The Lions will parade a different starting core led by veterans Bam Gamalinda, Garvo Lanete, and JR Tecson. The paint will be manned by American rookie Sudan Daniel, Jay-R Taganas, Dave Marcelo, and Jake Pascual.
Daniel is expected to fill in the void left by two-time most valuable player winner Sam Ekwe. The 6-foot-8 high flyer from California won the Nike Summer League MVP award leading the Lions to the crown.
“I am feeling good about our team right now," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. “Our performance in the preseason tournaments were more than what I expected. We beat big schools from both the NCAA and UAAP and won the Nike Summer League."
“Just a few tweaks here and there and I think we will be fine," he added.
New Mapua coach Chito Victolero feels the pressure of having the defending champions as his first assignment. He used to be at the other side as Koy Banal's assistant coach back in the red and white's first of three consecutive championships.
“Sabi ko sa kanila (his players), we can handle that pressure kung magp-prepare kami ng maayos," he countered. “Give our best effort. Kung ano ang result ng game, we are happy."
The Cardinals will be bannered by Allan Mangahas, Jason Pascual, and TG Guillermo. Others expected to deliver are Erwin Cornejo, Mark Sarangay, and Randolf Soriano.
“We can not play (against) Mapua soft," Lim said. “If we do, we just might get burned." – GMANews.TV
Games Saturday
(Araneta Coliseum)
1:00 p.m. – Opening ceremonies
2:00 p.m. – SBC vs MIT
4:00 p.m. – JRU vs CSJL
6:00 p.m. – SSC-R vs UPHSD
The Red Lions will face the Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. after the hour-long opening ceremonies prepared by host San Beda.
Other opening day games will have last year's runner up Jose Rizal University facing Letran College at 4:00 p.m. followed by the San Sebastian-Perpetual Help 6:00 p.m. match.
The Lions will parade a different starting core led by veterans Bam Gamalinda, Garvo Lanete, and JR Tecson. The paint will be manned by American rookie Sudan Daniel, Jay-R Taganas, Dave Marcelo, and Jake Pascual.
Daniel is expected to fill in the void left by two-time most valuable player winner Sam Ekwe. The 6-foot-8 high flyer from California won the Nike Summer League MVP award leading the Lions to the crown.
“I am feeling good about our team right now," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. “Our performance in the preseason tournaments were more than what I expected. We beat big schools from both the NCAA and UAAP and won the Nike Summer League."
“Just a few tweaks here and there and I think we will be fine," he added.
New Mapua coach Chito Victolero feels the pressure of having the defending champions as his first assignment. He used to be at the other side as Koy Banal's assistant coach back in the red and white's first of three consecutive championships.
“Sabi ko sa kanila (his players), we can handle that pressure kung magp-prepare kami ng maayos," he countered. “Give our best effort. Kung ano ang result ng game, we are happy."
The Cardinals will be bannered by Allan Mangahas, Jason Pascual, and TG Guillermo. Others expected to deliver are Erwin Cornejo, Mark Sarangay, and Randolf Soriano.
“We can not play (against) Mapua soft," Lim said. “If we do, we just might get burned." – GMANews.TV
Games Saturday
(Araneta Coliseum)
1:00 p.m. – Opening ceremonies
2:00 p.m. – SBC vs MIT
4:00 p.m. – JRU vs CSJL
6:00 p.m. – SSC-R vs UPHSD
