Pre-season favorites San Beda and Jose Rizal launch their respective title bids as the two take on dangerous Mapua and Letran in today’s
opener of the 85th NCAA basketball tournament before an expected full house crowd at the Big Dome.

The Lions clash with the Cardinals at 2 p.m. to open their four-peat feat bid while the Bombers collide with the Knights at 4 p.m. in a
repeat of last year’s Final Four showdowns that the two won to forge a title duel. No less than United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney will grace the exciting inaugurals as a guest speaker in rites that would also be attended by top officials of all schools including league president
Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, and Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson of host San Beda.

A production number to remember at 1 p.m. that included the tradition parade of all 10 teams including guest squads Arellano U, Angeles U
Foundation and Emilio Aguinaldo College will officially usher in the oldest and one of the most prestigious leagues in the land. Capping the busy day is an equally interesting match between San Sebastian, tipped in the pre-season to seriously contend for the crown, and a new-look Perpetual Help at 6 p.m.

“We’re expecting a bigger, better season since we will be playing with a record 10 teams, we’re really excited about it,” said de Jesus
during Wednesday’s media launch. On Monday, the College St. Benilde Blazers tackle Eric Gascon-mentored Great Danes at 2 p.m. while the AU Chiefs tangle with the EAC Generals at 4 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan City. Aric del Rosario, who steered University of Santo Tomas to a four-peat in the UAAP in the 90s, was tapped as this season’s commissioner replacing Joe Lipa. De Jesus said not even the dreaded swine flu or A(N1H1) virus could stop the NCAA from unfurling. “We’re abiding with all the guidelines set by the Department of Health and the Commission on Higher Education regarding the virus so we see no problem with that,” said de Jesus. Interestingly, aside from the three guest teams, there would be four new coaches making Louie Alas of Letran, Ariel Vanguardia of Jose Rizal and Lim as the oldest active coaches in the league today.
Former PBA MVP Ato “The Atom Bomb” Agustin has replaced Jorge Gallent at San Sebastian while Perpetual Help’s Boris Aldeguer, Mapua’s Chito
Victolero and St. Benilde’s Richard del Rosario succeeded Bai Cristobal, Leo Isaac and Gie Abanilla, respectively.

Former pro and Far Eastern U hotshot Eric Gascon, Junjie Ablan and Nomar Isla will mentor AUF, Arellano and EAC, respectively.
Aside from the slam-dunking Daniel, the league will also parade another foreign player--Cameroonian Joe Etame of Jose Rizal.
Another subplot is the future confrontation of the 6’8” Daniel against the 6’7” Cameroonian Joe Etame of Jose Rizal, currently sitting out
for another week due to a left knee injury. “It’s interesting to see them play against each other,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia referring to Daniel and Etame.