REIGNING two-time champion Letran remains the favorite but don’t bet on another perfect season — at least in the eyes of the nine other teams raring to dethrone the Knights.
“It’s anybody’s ballgame. Walang outstanding. Even steven ang mga line-up namin kaya walang favorites unlike noong Season 97 na alam mo na Letran kaagad,” Arellano University coach Cholo Martin said yesterday during the 98th NCAA season launch at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
Letran counterpart Bonnie Tan agreed, saying: “I agree na lahat ng teams lumakas at lumaki. Lahat talaga dito contenders.”
Coach Randy Alcantara of last season’s bridesmaid Mapua University is convinced all squads were given ample time to toughen up for the new cage wars that get going this Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I agree sa mga sinasabi ng mga coaches. Sa haba ng preparation, parang even lahat ng teams,” Alcantara said.
The Knights went perfect last year, sweeping its eliminations matches en route to an 11-0 mark.
Unlike in the past two seasons where men’s basketball and women’s volleyball events were only played aside from online taekwondo and chess, the new season will have more events with the return of the cheerleading, swimming, track and field, juniors’ basketball, men’s volleyball, beach volleyball and face-to-face taekwondo and chess tilts.
‘We are hoping to return to a normal season. We look forward to a very successful season,” league Policy Board President Dr. Jose Paolo Campos of host Emilio Aguinaldo College said.
“For the past two seasons, we have seen the resilience of our member school communities and student-athletes. As we begin Season 98, the Philippines’ first collegiate athletic competition remains steadfast in instilling values in our students: ‘Achieve Greatness Every Day.’ We continue to inspire everyone to do their best in everything they do, every day.”
Two more coaches agreed that the competition will be tough.
“Sa tingin naming, sa haba ng preparations, even lahat ng teams kaya magiging competitive ang lahat,” San Sebastian College strategist Egay Macaraya said.
Added Jose Rizal University coach Louie Gonzalez: “We all had enough time for all teams to prepare, kaya ini-expect talaga natin na mataas iyong competition.”
The Generals take on Arellano University in the match kicking off the new season of the country’s oldest collegiate league at 3:30 p.m. after the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m.
The Cardinals battle San Beda University, with new coach Yuri Escueta now at the helm of the Red Lions, in the nightcap at 6 o’clock.
