By CARLO ANOLIN
Without defending champion Letran, host Emilio Aguinaldo College and three other schools try to gain a piece of the limelight when the 98th season of the NCAA kicks off Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The traditional show under strict health and safety protocols will begin at 11 a.m. before proceeding with the double-header for the men’s basketball tournament with the Generals going up against the Arellano University Chiefs at 3:30 p.m.
Runners-up to the Letran Knights, the Mapua Cardinals hope to keep their title drive going when they clash with the San Beda Red Lions. The Generals were supposed to meet the Knights in the opener but league officials decided to scratch the game after four Letran players were tested positive for Covid, thus placing the team under safety protocols.
So the likes of Allen Liwag, Ralph Robin and Kriss Gurtiza are likely to share the limelight for the Generals while the Chiefs look to take things slow with a fresh start following the departure of key big man Justin Arana, who is now signed with Converge in the PBA.
Axel Doromal, Basti Valencia, and Kai Oliva will spearhead Arellano but the arrival of Filipino-Australian forward Cade Flores, providing firepower and stability in the paint, is also something to look forward to.
While Smart Araneta Coliseum hosts the opening day, the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan will be the venue for the remaining games set until Oct. 11 in the first round schedule released as of Sept. 3. Games are held on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Season 98 also marks the return of other sports such as swimming, track and field, men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, cheerleading, and juniors’ basketball while taekwondo and chess, which were held virtually the previous season, will now be played face-to-face.
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