By REYNALD MAGALLON
Teams under rebuilding phase are aiming to quickly make the mark in the NCAA Season 101 as Perpetual and San Sebastian lock horns and Letran and JRU tangle in the men’s basketball tournament on Friday, Oct. 3 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Altas, on their second season under head coach Olsen Racela, are unveiling a souped-up lineup that featured Patrick Sleat from Far Eastern University in the first offering at 11 a.m. when they take on the Stags, who are entering a new era under new coach Rob Labagala.
The Knights, a team looking to reestablish their winning identity after two losing seasons, then try to go for a strong start against a young but dangerous Heavy Bombers in the second game at 2:30 p.m.
After a fifth place finish in Season 100, Racela is hoping to finally get over the hump this year with key additions in the likes of Sleat, and high school champions from the Junior ALTAs in JD Pagulayan and Jan Roluna.
Of course, still out to lead the team, are key players John Abis, JP Boral, and Mark Gojo Cruz.
But the Stags are surely no pushover even with a new coach as Labagala has been optimistic with the team’s development under the new system.
San Sebastian, now under new management headed by Jackson Chua and Bernard Yang, has also loaded up talents in the likes of Jhuniel dela Rama, Jaime Gomez de Liaño, Ian Cuajao to join holdovers Paeng Are and TJ Felebrico.
Letran, on the other hand, is looking to finally welcome Jonathan Manalili after sitting out the entire Season 100 due to an injury. The Knights, will also have transferees Mark Omega and Jun Roque to rely on along with key holdovers Jimboy Estrada, Kevin Santos, Deo Cuajao.
JRU, however, is banking on their youth and raw talent as it looks for a fresh start under new coach Nani Epondulan. He was a former NCAA MVP in 2001, bringing JRU to a couple of finals appearances.
