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The NCAA 86th Season unfolds with the Opening Ceremonies on June 26, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum. SSC-R Manila takes the lead as the host school for this season.
STAGS NIP TAMS, GRAB FILOIL TITLE
By Jasmine W. Payo (Philippine
Daily Inquirer)
June 14, 2010
Add more to San Sebastian’s growing list of the title conquests.
The reigning NCAA champions STAGS sustained their impressive title run in the last eight months by nipping the Far Eastern U Tamaraws, 79-78, to rule the FilOil-Flying V First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Pamboy Raymundo nailed the game-winning free throw with 2.9 seconds remaining after drawing a foul from FEU’s Chris Exciminiano during a mad scramble for the loose ball.
The defending champion Tamaraws had a chance to win the game, but Aldrech Ramos’ jumper timed out at the buzzer.
Ramos had earlier tied it at 78 with a triple with 34.7 seconds left to cap an FEU rally from 12 points down.
“We were lucky,” said Stags coach Ato Agustin. “We had the breaks of the game, but the players also played with a big heart. The boys never gave up. Our experience in playing in the finals also helped a lot.”
Calvin Abueva again delivered for the Stags, unloading 12 of his game-high 23 points in the final quarter. Ronald Pascual also came through with 22 markers, stepping up when Abueva colled off in the middle quarters.
The Stags picked up their fourth crown in a championship streak that started with their NCAA title romp last October.
“We’ll try to win another championship, but we know there are still things that we have to improve on,” said Agustin, the rookie mentor who also steered the Stags to the CHED National Games and the PBL title, where they represented Excelroof, early this year.
The Scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 79– Abueva 23, Pascual 22, Raymundo 16, Del Rio 10, Sangalang 4, Maconocido 2, Bulawan 2, Semira 0, Gorospe 0.
FEU 78– Garcia 21, Romeo 20, Ramos 13, Cervantes 8, Cawaling 7, Bringas 5, Cruz 4, Exciminiano 0, Sanga 0, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0, Noundou 0.
Quarters: 23-18, 41-35, 55-55,
79-78
STAGS, LIONS TEAMS TO BEAT IN NCAA 2010
By Joey Villar (The
Philippine Star Sports)
June 14, 2010
Titleholder San Sebastian and former three-peat champion San Beda have been installed as the teams to beat in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament which unfolds June 26 at the Araneta Coliseum.
With just minor changes in their respective rosters, Stags and the Red Lions indeed loom large in the upcoming 86th season of the country’s oldest varsity league which features nine teams.
The high-leaping Calvin Abueva is expected to lead San Sebastian’s back-to-back title drive while San Beda is tipped to use its experience to the hilt with a veteran crew headed by American behemoth Sudan Daniel as it tries to regain the crown.
“As usual, San Sebastian and San Beda will be the teams to beat because they’re returning with their core this season,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses, the former PBA star who took over from Ariel Vanguardia late last year, in Filipino.
The Stags, handled by ato Agustin, will also have Ronald Pascual, Gilbert Bulawan, John Raymundo, Ian Sangalang and Dave Najorda in the fold with only last year’s Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino out after completing his five-year stint in the league.
San Beda, meanwhile, hopes to get back at Jose Rizal U right in the opening day. The Bombers beat the Lions in the quarterfinals of the FilOil tournament.
“We lost in the quarterfinals of the FilOil to Jose Rizal. We need to go back to work and prepare for the NCAA. Anyway, we’ll play Jose Rizal in the opening, hopefully we could get back at them,” said SBC coach Franki Lim.
“Of course, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal, Perpetual Help and Letran will be the teams to beat. Mapua should also be contender. But let me warn you, all schools have improved since I got there three years ago, every year the competition is improving and getting tougher,” Lim said.
Fellow coaches Boris Aldeguer of Perpetual Help and Nomar Isla of Emilio Aguinaldo College agree.
“The teams to beat are San Sebastian, San Beda, Jose Rizal and Mapua but that is not discounting the other teams because I think anyone can beat anyone this season,” said Aldeguer, whose Altas made it to the semifinals of the 16th Fr. Martin Cup.
“I can see that San Sebastian can still dominate with Jose Rizal and San Beda not far behind. The last Final Four spot will be a tossup among the remaining teams so don’t count all of us out,” Isla said.
The Stags take on the Letran Knights in the inaugurals kicking off at 2 pm while the Lions and the Bombers tangle at 4 pm.
Action shifts to The Arena in San Juan on June 27 with Mapua tackling Perpetual help at 2 pm and Arellano U and EAC, now regular members on probationary status, facing off at 4 pm.
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