NCAA Season 94 kicks off today

The traditional post of the head coaches with the basketball. (From L-R: JRU assistant coach Vic Lazaro, Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson, CSB head coach Ty Tang, Letran head coach Jeff Napa, Arellano head coach Jerry Codinera, Perpetual head coach Frankie Lim, San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya, San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez, Mapua head coach Atoy Co, and EAC head coach Ariel Sison)

Games today at the Mall of Asia Arena:


12nn.- Opening Ceremony

2 p.m.- San Beda vs Perpetual Help (srs)

4 p.m.- LPU vs San Sebastian (srs)

The 94th season of the NCAA kicks off at noontime today, with the league's opening ceremonies, as current hosts University of Perpetual Help System Dalta has picked the theme to be "NCAA Season 94: UnParalleled Heights in Sports Development."

The Altas will then open the basketball tournament at 2pm against defending champions San Beda, with current coach Frankie Lim facing the team he led to championships a decade earlier.

The Red Lions are virtually bringing back their entire core from last season's title run, with only Davon Potts and Arnaud Noah departing from the team, with the Toba Eugene of Nigeria being picked as the second foreign student-athlete to accompany incumbent Finals MVP Donald Tankoua.

With a lineup backstopped by Robert Bolick and Javee Mocon, supplemented by a supporting cast of Clint Doliguez, Franz Abuda, Jose Mari Presbitero, AC Soberano, Radge Tongco, Jeramer Cabanag, and Calvin Oftana, and boosted by true freshman Evan Nelle, San Beda is considered as consensus favorites alongside fellow finalists last season in Lyceum.

Head Coach Boyet Fernandez did stress that the league is balanced and that anyone can beat anyone. He shares, "Yes, we have experience and we're almost intact. But I still think it will be tough this season because teams have beefed up."

In the second game of the basketball doubleheader, CJ Perez and the Pirates face off against Michael Calisaan and San Sebastian College-Recoletos.

Lyceum is coming off the first 18-0 eliminations campaign in league history, and although they fell short against the Red Lions in the finals, the crew of head coach Topex Robinson aim to extend the dividends from last season onto this season with holdovers Mike Harry Nzeusseu, Jesper Ayaay, and the Marcelino twins.

The NCAA has made some tweaks to its set-up under commissioner Bai Cristobal, as they are tapping referees from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League to handle officiating, while also bringing back the hugely popular "NCAA on Tour."

Current NCAA president Anthony Tamayo bared this season's schedule for the NCAA On Tour, with the following playdates:

July 12 at Jose Rizal Gym
July 19 at Arellano Gym
July 26 at the Emilio Aguinaldo Gym
August 2 at Letran-Calamba
August 9 at Perpetual Help Gym