NCAA Season 86 kicks off with a double-header of title favorites

NCAA Coaches (L-R): SSCR's Ato Agustin, CSB's Richard del Rosario, JRU's Vergel Meneses, MIT's Chito Victolero, EAC's Nomar Isla, SBC's Frankie Lim, CSLJ's Tino Pinat (standing in for an absent Louie Alas), AU's Leo Isaac, and UPHSD's Boris Aldeguer. This report appears in the Tuesday June 22, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

NCAA Season 86 kicks off with a double-header of title favorites

by rick olivares

The press conference for Season 86 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) held yesterday June 21, 2010 at the ELJ Center of television carrier ABS CBN served up a preview of the tournament to come. All nine teams – Arellano University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, College of Saint Benilde, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jose Rizal University, Mapua Institute of Technology, San Beda College, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta – were present and when asked about their thoughts on the basketball season to come, they were guarded with their statements so as not to give another school ammunition and motivation when the season opens on Saturday June 26 at the Araneta Coliseum.

But clearly, San Sebastian and San Beda are heavy favorites as evidenced by their pre-season showing and by the queries asked by members of the media. Said the Stags’ Ato Agustin, “Lahat naman ng ibang teams paghahandaan. Lahat yan nag-build up. Kung last year na-surpresa natin sila this year tiyak na paghahandaan kami.”

Added CSB’s Richard del Rosario, “With the build-up of all the teams, we (the Blazers) hope to finish in the middle of the pack by the end of the first round. That will give us a chance to fight it out for a Final Four slot.”

The Golden Stags, who stopped cold the Red Lions’ bid for an epic four-peat last season, are also this year’s host. Reverend Fr. Anthony Murillo, OAR, President of San Sebastian unveiled the theme for the season which is “Youth Speaks at 86: Empowerment, Leadership, and Nationalism.”

“Hopefully, our athletes can provide a forum for heroes and role models for out students and the youth of our country.”

The traditional palabas on Opening Day is set at 1pm with pop entertainers Billy Crawford, Kyla, and Jay-R in attendance. Music veejays Iya Villana and KC Montero are set to host the opening. After the two hour program, the 86^th season will kick off with a double header pitting last year’s final four protagonists.

The Stags face the Letran Knights at 2pm while the JRU, now coached by former Heavy Bomber great Vergel Meneses, collides with San Beda, with their five new faces in Mar Villahermosa, Kyle Pascual, Anthony and David Semerad, and Jaypee Mendoza, in the main game at 4pm.