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THREE new coaches and an array of future superstars
are the keys to watch as the 83rd season of the National Collegiate
Athletic Association basketball tournament opens on Saturday at the
Araneta Coliseum.
Former PBA player Frankie Lim, a
true blooded Red Lions, will now call the shots for the defending
champion San Beda College, which is aiming to make it two in row
after ending a long 28-year title drought last year.
Lim, who replaced Koy Banal in
the Red Lions bench, named Mapua Cardinals, host Jose Rizal
Bombers, San Sebastian Stags and College as the teams most
likely to give San Beda a tough opposition.
“We tough opponents as almost
all teams are capable of winning the title. Mapua is improving and I
guess it’s going to be tougher for us this year,” said Lim, who
is also the team manager of the Talk ’N Text Phone Pals in the PBA.
The Mapua Cardinals, champions in
1992, will be handled by Leo Isaac while Jorge Gallent took over
from Raymond Valenzona in the San Sebastians Stags bench.
Gallent, fresh from his
three-peat victory for Harbour Centre in the Philippine Basketball
League recently, failed to show up during the league’s press
launching held Monday at ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN vice-president Peter
Musngi thanked the NCAA management for extending the TV giant’s
contract with the country’s oldest collegiate league to another
five years.
“Today is the first day of
another five-year contract with the NCAA. And I take this
opportunity to thank the management committee for their trust and
confidence in us,” said Musngi.
JRU’s Paul Supan, chairman of
the NCAA management committee likewise expressed confidence towards
another successful staging of the basketball tournament despite the
absence of 2004 champion Philippine Christian University, which was
suspended for fielding ineligible player last year.
“There is nothing great for
Mapua this year, except that we are working hard to be able to field
a competitive team this year,” said Isaac, who replaced Horacio
Lim.
Seeing action on opening day are
San Beda against JRU at 2 p.m., Mapua against Letran at 4 p.m. and
Perpetual Help against San Sebastian at 6 p.m.
 --Frank
Calapre
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