NCAA kickoff: Knights vs Bombers, Blazers against Pirates

MANILA, Philippines — New heroes will rise.

That’s how the NCAA foresees its Season 99, which starts Sunday with a pair of titanic showdowns featuring four-peat-aiming Letran against Jose Rizal U and last year’s No. 2 St. Benilde versus Lyceum of the Philippines U at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

The Bombers, this year’s hosts, vowed to put their best foot forward as they try to make the school proud as they face off with the Knights under new coach Rensy Bajar at 3 p.m.

“We’ve prepared hard for this and we will give it our best each game,” said JRU coach Louie Gonzales during yesterday’s season launch at the MOA Arena lobby.

The other game pits the Blazers versus the Pirates at 5:30 p.m.

Season inaugurals start at 2 p.m. with an opening to remember for the league also featuring San Beda, University of Perpetual Help, Arellano U, Mapua, San Sebastian and Emilio Aguinaldo College.