San Beda’s sweep bid of the first round elims in the NCAA basketball competition was again delayed after the Management Committee decided to take a break in support of the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
The Red Lions were scheduled to meet the Mapua Cardinals at 2 p.m. on Tuesday but the MANCOM, through its chairman Peter Cayco of season host Arellano University, cancelled all the matches to give way to Gilas’ match against the Serbians Monday night.
Cayco said Tuesday’s matches will be played on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome inn Pasay City.
“We’re one in supporting our beloved national team Gilas Pilipinas. We’re giving way to the national team in its campaign in the 2019 FIBA World Cup” said Cayco in a statement.
“As a nation, we want to focus and cheer as one for our national team – win or lose we support them and we at the NCAA, this is our own little way to show our all out support to Gilas Pilipinas and the efforts of the SBP,” added Cayco.
The league has one remaining play date to complete the first round – the games originally set Aug. 6 but were postponed due to bad weather. It was reset to Aug. 27 but was again called off.
Also cancelled was the 12 noon encounter between Letran and College of St. Benilde – two teams determined to end San Beda’s three-year reign.
Also affected was the 4 p.m. showdown between Arellano against San Sebastian College-Recoletos at 4 p.m. (Waylon Galvez)
