Atungal ng Red Lions sa 2018
MULI na namang nagpamalas ng kanilang A-game ang San Beda College sa National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) Season 94 men’s basketball tournament.
Naitala ng Red Lions ang back-to-back championship at ika-22 sa kabuuan ng kampanya ng institusyon sa premyado at pinakamatandang collegiate league sa bansa.
Pagpapatunay ng kanilang matagumpay na basketball program matapos makamit ang kanilang ika-11 titulo sa loob ng nakaraang 13 taon.
“As you all know, San Beda will always look for a championship, and it will be a disappointment if we don’t end up as champions. But again, the championships that I had is not really on my own effort, it’s also the effort of my players and my coaching staff, plus the coaches who have been part and parcel of the championships of San Beda,” pahayag ni Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez matapos patatagin ang estado ng San Beda bilang winningest school sa NCAA history.
Gayunman, kung tagumpay din lamang sa programa ang paguusapan, hindi naman pahuhuli ang runner-up nilang Lyceum of the Philippines University na mula sa pagiging cellar dweller ay naging back-to-back finalists sa nakalipas na dalawang season sa ilalim ni coach Topex Robinson.
Bukod dito, isa pang maipagmamalaki nilang produkto ng naturang programa ang naging top overall pick sa nakaraang 2018 PBA draft na si CJ Perez.
“The blessing of having CJ is really huge for our program,” ani Robinson.
Sa ilalim ng paggabay ni Robinson, mula sa pagiging guest team noong 2005, ngayon ay kinikilala na silang lehitimong title contender.
“We could say that we’re a legit title contender. I told them, ‘Don’t look at us not winning the finals but think about being in the championship again. That’s not luck. The challenge now is to be there again next year.”
Sa kabila ng kanilang naging kabiguan, nananatiling positibo ang Pirates dahil na rin sa hindi matatawaran nilang achievements.