MAPUA and San Beda aim to rebound from last year’s disappointments as they tackle a new-look Arellano U and San Sebastian, respectively, today in NCAA Season 99 basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The Cardinals came in as one of the favorites a season ago when they finished a strong second the previous year but struggled at the start, never recovered, and finished a painful seventh place.
The Lions wound up better but their fourth-place performance that same season was their worst in decades.
expect Mapua and San Beda to make amends this year as they open their season against AU at 2 p.m. and SSC at 4 o’clock, with the winners joining opening day victors Jose Rizal U and Lyceum of the Philippines U at the helm.
“We expect a tougher year because all the teams have improved but we prepared hard for this season because we want to improve from last year,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara, who will have skipper Warren Bonifacio, Toby Agustin, Paolo Hernandez and Clint Escamis as his go-to guys this season.
“The boys are motivated to compete this year,” said San Beda’s sophomore mentor Yuri Escueta, who will rely on veterans Peter Alfaro, Yukien Andrada, Damie Cuntapay, Jacob Cortez, JV Gallego and Clifford Jopia.
John Kallos has taken over from Egay Macaraya as coach and the former will inherit the latter’s team of Rafael Are, Romel Calahat, Alex Desoyo, Jessie Sumoda, James Una and Cris Jacob Shanoda.
The Chiefs have made several changes as they did not only acquire a new coach in Chico Manabat to replace Cholo Martin, they also brought in a whopping nine rookies.
“We’re probably the team with the most rookie but we will give it our best to compete,” said Manabat, who played college ball for the National U Bulldogs.
