Reigning champion San Sebastian and their Runner-up San Beda got off to pretty good starts over opening weekend of NCAA Season 86.

Season 86 opened in grand fashion with plenty of production numbers from host school San Sebastian as well as some of the biggest names in local entertainment. Dance numbers, a cheer dance exhibition as well as songs and other numbers from the likes of popular singers JR and Kyla.

Clearly not cranking it up all the way, the Golden Stags outlasted the Letran Knights 59-53 in the maiden game of the new season. They drew a so-so 13 points and seven boards from superstar Calvin Abueva. It seemed the reigning NCAA champions just don’t quite have their game faces on 100% to start the season. “Letran is a tough team, we really had to make adjustments in the second half,” said head coach Ato Agustin in the post-game interview.

It might not be the right time to pick nits with the Stags. After all, since they won the Season 85 title they have not stopped winning. Just a few weeks back they made it four major amateur titles in a row over the last eight months or so by taking home the 2010 Fil Oil summer tournament championship over Far Eastern University. Prior to that, they had taken the last PBL FG Flex Cup conference championship and the National Students Championship.

Letran looked ready to pull a little upset as veterans JP Belencion and Jamison Cortes put together an inside-outside combo to keep the Knights always within striking distance of the reigning champions. Letran was also getting some good hustle plays out of their less-heralded players like Boy Belorio and Toto Almazan. They certainly missed hotshot Kevin Alas who sat out this game with a slight sprain. He is returning in time for their next game.

It was a more expected outcome in the main offering of opening day as the Red Lions tore up the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers 68-52. From a tight and tentative first half, Borgie Hermida, Dave Marcelo and JP Mendoza made it 42-30 to start the third period. It was all smooth sailing from there with the lead increasing to as much as 57-36 at one point.

San Beda seemed overeager to put the game away early on, and held the Bombers to single digits in the first period. But Nchotu Njei, Nate Matute and Marvin Hayes kept JRU in the game in the first half. Too bad they could not keep it up as the Red Lions put their run together in the second half and cruised to the victory.

In the battle of the imports, African Etame Joe saw some good minutes for JRU but looked lost and a little tentative. A very good freethrow shooter he was even splitting freethrows throughout the third period when San Beda made its breakaway. Sudan Daniel of San Beda didn’t get much done himself, getting limited to only three points, but he was a more active presence than Etame.

Other opening weekend winners include Mapua Tech and Arellano University. Playing on an NCAA Sunday for the first time in forever, the Cardinals used a third-quarter breakaway to rip Perpetual Help 79-65. Later Arellano used a strong finishing kick to get the 82-72 win over Emilio Aguinaldo.

Guard Andretti Stevens, fast earning a reputation for tough play and a take-no-prisoners attitude, got into a fracas with Altas rookie swingman Arnold Danganan. This resulted in a bench-clearing affray that was soon pacified with some player ejections and technical fouls all around. The NCAA Commissioner will decide on the fates of Stevens and Danganan soon.

Danganan, a transfer from STI, led all scorers with a game-high 23 points. Veterans Maki Acosta and Erwin Cornejo led a balanced Mapua side with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Arellano tempted fate by allowing EAC to come within 62-64 with still some five minutes left in the game. Argel Mendoza and Calude Cubo brought the Generals back from as much as 16 points down. Diminutive pointguard Bimbot Anquilo and Andrian Celada scored some crucial baskets to make it 69-62 for the Chiefs. Isaiah Ciriacruz and John Tayongtong stretched it to as much as 76-65. That was enough to allow them to get past the Generals.

Celada had 22 points for the Chiefs while Cubo had 18 points and 13 boards for EAC.