San Beda launches NCAA Season 102 title defense bid vs. Benilde

San Beda University is chasing another piece of history as it looks to defend its crown and win its third title in the last seven years in the NCAA Season 102 that fires off on Sunday.

The Red Lions are looking to rule the league once more after doing so in Seasons 99 and 101, while also completing their first back-to-back title run since 2018, when the school won three championships in a row.

Hosting the season this year, San Beda faces a tough road ahead to achieve that goal.

The Red Lions are bunched in an interesting crew in Group A alongside dark horse Jose Rizal University, Season 100 champion Mapua University, new-look Lyceum of the Philippines University, and a consistent challenger De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, which San Beda will open its title defense against.

San Beda and Benilde will open hostilities at 3 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena with the Red Lions looking to repeat the outcome of their Final Four clash last year, where they outlasted the Blazers before sweeping rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the finals.

San Beda, though, will have to do it minus several big stars. Yukien Andrada, Bryan Sajonia, and Joe Celzo have all moved up to the professional ranks while Mythical Five member Janti Miller has since transferred to De La Salle University in the UAAP.

Nygel Gonzales, expected to carry the torch for San Beda this year, is also out due to a preseason injury.

Good news for San Beda, however, is that some key holdovers remained, while new faces are also expected to step up and fill the void.

Jomel Puno is tipped to lead the San Beda fight alongside Zedjay Etulle, Penny Estacio, JC Bonzalida, and RC Calimag. They will be joined by transferee Aldous Torcullas and rookies Andrei Ugaddan and Maco Dabao.

Meanwhile, Benilde will be without reigning two-time MVP Allen Liwag and will instead bank on Justine Sanchez, SJ Moore, Jhomel Ancheta, Ian Torres, and Anton Eusebio.

In the second game, Letran and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will renew their rivalry from last season's semifinals in the 5 p.m. matchup.

The Knights will still lean heavily on sophomore star Titing Manalili alongside Jimboy Estrada, Kevin Santos, Aaron Buensalida, Nat Montecillo, and Chad Gammad as they look to redeem themselves following a finals loss the year prior.

The ALTAs, on the other hand, will bring back Mark Gojo Cruz, Shawn Orgo, Kenji Duremdes, and JD Pagulayan, all of whom are expected to step up following the exit of John Abis, JP Boral, and Patrick Sleat.

—JKC, GMA News