by Kristel Satumbaga
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – LSGH vs Mapua (Jrs)
4 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum (Srs)
Take your pick: Lions on the loose or shorthanded Pirates on a pillaging spree?
San Beda and Lyceum start another chapter in their championship rivalry when the NCAA men’s basketball title series fires off today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Game is at 4 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s finals with the two teams aching to draw first blood in the best-of-three finals affair which took a sudden twist when the NCAA board suspended Lyceum star CJ Perez a game for failing to inform the league in writing of his PBA draft application.
Perez averages 18.7 points a game, 8.4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.3 steals.
According to NCAA rules, student-athletes who fail to inform the league of their application for the pro draft would be suspended for their teams’ remaining games. But league and Lyceum officials reached a compromise to ban Perez for only a game.
Perez, who was born to Filipino parents in Hong Kong, was classified as a “Fil-foreigner” under PBA rules.
Deadline of draft application for Fil-foreigners was last Oct. 29 while local players have until Dec. 3, a PBA policy which Perez and his representatives apparently sough to beat.
Without Perez, the reigning Most Valuable Player, the Pirates will have to depend more on Mike Nzeusseu and Jaycee Marcelino, among others, in the opener.
The Red Lions seek to extend their reign for the third straight time and add another trophy to their rich collection while the Pirates are hungry to end their title draught since joining the league in 2011.
