San Beda’s Yukien Andrada during a Final 4 game against Lyceum within the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Defending champion San Beda rekindles its Final 4 rivalry with host Lyceum to officially raise the curtain on the NCAA’s centennial season on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Last yr, the Red Lions upset the second-seeded Pirates within the Final 4 before toppling the No. 1 Mapua Cardinals within the championship round.
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Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan hopes the consequence in Season 99 serves as a motivator for his squad, which is hungry for redemption.
READ: NCAA: Lyceum boosts roster with Fil-Am recruits
“We wish to bounce back from our losses last yr and it’s an important motivation,” said Malabanan in Filipino during a press conference in Pasay on Tuesday.
“I see our team as a really competitive team right away.”
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San Beda coach Yuri Escueta expects his team to be tested instantly by Lyceum, which is coming off back-to-back semifinal appearances.
READ: NCAA: Yukien Andrada expected to be San Beda’s latest top dog
“Each time we play Lyceum, it’s at all times a challenge for us. We know the way hard and well coach Gilbert prepares his team,” said Escueta.
Except for the San Beda-Lyceum clash, one other rematch of last yr’s Final 4 matchup takes place between Mapua and College of St. Benilde.
The Cardinals, who went 15-3 within the elimination round last season, sent the Blazers home within the semifinals before falling to the Red Lions in a three-game final.
The games
LOOK: The primary round schedule of the #NCAASeason100 men’s basketball tourney.
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— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) September 3, 2024
The league could have its usual game day schedules with doubleheaders happening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
All games in the primary round–except the opening–will happen at San Juan Arena.
Longtime rivals San Beda and Letran, which is under latest coach Allen Ricardo, meet for the primary time in Season 100 on October 1.
In one other marquee matchup, College of St. Benilde battles San Beda on September 10.
Recent Perpetual Help coach Olsen Racela, meanwhile, makes his NCAA coaching debut against JRU also on Sept. 10.
Capping off the primary round is a rematch of the Season 99 finals between the Cardinals and Red Lions which shall be the lone game set on October 8.
