Cagers from the past were given shout-outs before the NCAA Season 96 officially opens shop later today.
On 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96', basketball analysts Mikee Reyes and Martin Antonio, who were both inside the NCAA circle the past few years, named their top ballers hailing from the country's oldest collegiate fixture.
Antonio, a former San Beda Red Lion, listed down seven players who are the epitome of the NCAA brand of basketball.
Topping his list is his former Red Lion Caloy Loyzaga, who he says is the "standard" when it comes to international competition after leading the Philippines to two Olympics runs (1952 and 1956).
Freddie Webb of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Atoy Co of Mapua University are next on his list as the two did not only excel in basketball but more so outside of it such as showbiz and politics.
Lim Eng Beng of the De La Salle University, the Knights' Samboy Lim of Letran, and the Cardinals' Alvin Patrimonio, according to Antonio, were also some of the greats that the NCAA has produced.
Lastly, Antonio said Rommel Adducul could be considered as one of the greatest NCAA ballers of all time after having steered San Sebastian College to five straight titles from 1993 to 1997.
Meanwhile, Reyes named his own Mythical Five from the Season 95 where Letran reigned supreme over archrival San Beda.
Completing his quintet are Calvin Oftana of San Beda, Jerrick Balanza of defending champion Letran, and RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi of San Sebastian. Evan Nelle, even though he has already transferred to DLSU, also made it to Reyes' list.
Catch the NCAA Season 96 opening ceremony today at 5:05 p.m. only on GTV!
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News
