Bitter foes Colegio de San Juan de Letran and San Beda University are set to open a new chapter in their storied rivalry as NCAA Season 98 offers two must-see games on Friday.
Letran and San Beda clash at 3 p.m. while rising Jose Rizal University and skidding Mapua University will collide in the opening salvo set at 12 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Knights and the Red Lions are both coming off wins.
The Muralla crew is currently on a two-game winning streak after pulling off hard-fought wins against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and last season's runner-up Mapua.
And Letran head coach Bonnie Tan is expecting another tough game against a familiar San Beda side eager to deal the defending champions its second loss in five games.
"Kahit naman new coach (ang San Beda), 'yung mga players nila 'yun pa rin. We're expecting na talagang kung ano ang binigay ng Mapua ngayon, I'm sure na from fans to players, they will give 'yung double effort nila para makipag-compete with Letran," said Tan.
"[But] we'll take one game at a time."
Letran will be up against a well-rested San Beda squad coming off a long break. The Red Lions last trooped to the court last Wednesday, when they edged San Sebastian College-Recoletos for a second win.
Letran, though, will be without two of its key players in Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso who were both slapped with one-game suspensions following a physical game against the Cardinals.
Meanwhile, JRU is looking to add more woes to Mapua, who has lost fourth in a row to drop to 1-4.
Momentum is also definitely on the side of the Heavy Bombers, who have defeated Emilio Aguinaldo College and Arellano University to improve to 2-2 after an early two-game slump.
—JMB, GMA News
