Defending champion San Beda University and perennial contender De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde asserted their dominance right off the bat to kick off the return of NCAA Season 99 men's football tournament on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
San Beda pulled off a 5-0 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College to open its title defense while Benilde leaned on the brace of Jancee Blerr Borja in a 6-0 triumph against Mapua University.
San Beda, the winningest team in the tournament with 24 titles, needed just three minutes to get on the board with Alexis Jeremy Lampines converting the breakthrough goal that marked the return of football action after five years.
The Red Booters then struggled with a scoring drought in the next minutes, but Nicolai Art and Kirk Eman See quenched it and delivered the second and third goals at the 57th and 73rd mark as they built a 3-0 commanding lead.
Paul Jushua Mapula and Faustin Kirvy Tabelin put on the finishing kick.
San Beda is looking to defend the crown they last won in 2019 when they ruled the Season 94 tournament.
Meanwhile, Benilde's Borja dropped two huge goals at the 55th and 69th minutes following the first goal from Kobe Joseph Stuart Del Rosario for a 3-0 cushion.
Charles Clarence Unabia and John Clyde Vitualla's goals capped off a masterful showing from the Taft crew, which is looking to redeem itself and win its first title since 2018.
San Beda returns to action on Thursday against Mapua at 7 a.m. while Benilde takes on EAC at 9 a.m.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
