MAPUA University gets an early test in its bid for back-to-back NCAA crowns as it tackles a hungry Lyceum squad in the Season 101 opener set on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A rematch of last year’s semifinals, the Cardinals would want nothing more than to open their title-retention campaign on a high and they can do just that by hurdling the Pirates in the battle of two Group A powerhouses set at 2:30 PM.
The Cardinals, of course, will still be leaning on former NCAA MVP and last season’s Finals MVP Clint Escamis to lead the charge while hoping to build quick chemistry with their new recruits in Cyrus Nitura, Joe Gulapa and Drex Delos Reyes.
Given that they also lost two players who were integral to their title run last year in Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat, Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara is under no illusion that things will get any easier this year – championship experience or not.
“Walang madali ngayon,” Alcantara said.
“Noong preseason tinalo kami ng lahat ng teams. Siyempre di natin pwedeng basehan ang preseason, sasabihin nila, pero alam ko yung lakas nila, alam ko na talagang nag-improve lahat ng teams para agawin sa amin yung corona.”
Escamis echoed his coach’s sentiments, acknowledging that they have huge targets on their backs now and they can’t rest on their laurels.
“Kahit sino talaga pwede ngayon, lahat sila dark horse. Kailangan talaga mag-step up kasi syempre, you can only go down from being number one,” Escamis said.
Barba, Lyceum out to ambush Cardinals
Taking a first crack at the reigning, defending champions are the Pirates who will be led by one of the most potent scorers in the NCAA last year and mythical team member John Barba out to prove a point.
Despite a breakout year for the Pirates which he led to another final four appearance, Barba was left undrafted in the recent PBA draft.
That bad news for Barba may even be worse news for the rest of the league as this player – who averaged 17.6 points last season – is now playing with a huge chip on his shoulder.
“Dahil hindi tayo pinalad makapag-pro, baka hindi pa talaga para sa akin mag-pro at may dahilan talaga si God bakit nangyari yun,” Barba said.
“Siyempre, thankful ako na after ng nangyari sakin sa PBA draft, may opportunity ako na mapakita yung talent ko this NCAA,” he added.
“Sobrang gigil ako na maipakita yung talent ko at makabawi kasi yang opportunity minsan lang yan. Nawala ako sa PBA draft, pero may opportunity pa ako maipakita ang talent ko sa NCAA.”
NCAA title contenders clash as Blazers, Red Lions tangle
In the second game, two teams with championship aspirations in perennial favorites College of St. Benilde and San Beda University are set to meet for the first time in Group B action set on 5 PM.
The Blazers once again came close to winning an NCAA championship last year but got swept by the hungry Cardinals in the finals.
Coach Charles Tiu knows that they have another golden chance to win it all this season, but to even get to that, they’ll have to navigate a tough group where they’d have to face San Beda and Letran twice and place in the top two to get a twice-to-beat advantage come the quarterfinals.
“It’s a tough challenge. If you want to be a champion anyway, you have to go through these teams. We’re gonna be ready for it,” Tiu said.
Like Tiu, San Beda coach Yuri Escueta is likewise shooting for the stars this season – knowing that the proud institution – winners of 23 NCAA Men’s basketball titles – would settle for nothing less.
“Of course the expectation is to reclaim our championship. That’s what we’ve been preparing for,” Escueta said.
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