Coaches of the NCAA men’s basketball teams are one in saying that the coming NCAA season will be a wide-open race.
Veteran Boyet Fernandez, who will again call the shots for defending champion San Beda College, said it will be a suicide if one will take anybody in the league lightly.
Fernandez, who guided the team to back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014, stressed that despite having an almost intact lineup, he can’t guarantee that they will emerge victorious once again.
All teams, he said, have what it takes to pull off surprises and raise the championship trophy at the end of the season.
“When you look back at the preseason tournament (Premier Pre-Season tournament), the teams are now more competitive,” said Fernandez.
According to Fernandez, Lyceum is one team on the rise.
The Pirates have proven that after giving the Red Lions a big scare in their semis showdown.
Aside from San Beda and Lyceum, also making it to the Final Four of the preseason tournament were the Jose Rizal University Bombers.
Despite ruling the preseason event, Fernandez shrugged off the favorites’ tag, saying anybody can beat anybody now.
The League starts this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Lyceum coach Topex Robinson, however, downplayed the dark horse tag.
“It’s going to be a tough but even playing field, except of course, for San Beda, which will remain as the team to beat.”