Games today
(La Salle Greenhills Gym)
2:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
3:30 p.m. – CSB vs Letran
7:05 p.m. – San Beda vs LPU
Despite being tipped as one of the favorites in the 97th NCAA men's basketball tournament, Letran has a lot of catching up to do.
“Humahabol pa kami kasi ibang-iba yung performance ng players dito sa preparation namin. Kulang pa talaga sa jelling,” said Knights coach Bonnie Tan.
Back-to-back title-seeking Letran opens its campaign against College of Saint Benilde at 3:30 p.m. today at the La Salle Greenhills Gym.
Season 95 Finals MVP Fran Yu will lead the way for the Knights along with holdovers Jeo Ambohot, Allen Mina, King Caralipio, Kurt Reyson, Pao Javillionar and Mark Sangalang.
Letran added former University of Santo Tomas standouts Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso to its roster.
Tan believes that the school's fierce rival San Beda, which will play Lyceum of the Philippines University in the other half of the opening day doubleheader at 7:05 p.m., remains a major threat.
Despite not having any foreign student-athlete to dominate the middle and playmaker Evan Nelle's decision to leave Mendiola, the Red Lions will bank on their championship pedigree as they have James Kwekuteye and Franz Abuda as the new leader.
Former Red Cubs Rhayyan Amsali, Yukien Andrada, Justine Sanchez, and Tony Ynot, on the other hand, will make their college debuts.
"Maraming bago talaga and based sa mga kuwento-kuwento and posts, San Beda nandiyan parati," said Tan.
The Lions have not missed the Finals since 2005.
Not since 2002 that the Blazers have last made it to the Final Four, and with youthful Charles Tiu now at the helm, this could be the year that fortunes might change.
Tiu, who replaced TY Tang as CSB coach last year, knows the difficult challenges ahead to make it past the elimination round.
"All the schools will be tough. I think it will be an even playing field this season," said Tiu.
Will Gozum, JC Cullar, and Robi Nayve will banner the Blazers, who hope to accelerate the growth of 6-foot-9 project Ladis Lepalam to become a force in the paint.
The opening day matchups will be aired live on GTV.
Viewers can catch the NCAA Season 97 live games airing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday at 12:00 noon on GTV with replays every Monday and Thursday at 3 p.m.
The games will also be streamed on the NCAA Philippines website (www.ncaa.com.ph), NCAA Philippines Facebook page and YouTube channel, and GMA Sports' Facebook and Twitter pages. Kapuso abroad can catch all the action via GMA Pinoy TV.
—JMB, GMA News
