The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), aside from being the first collegiate league in the country, is also the home of some of the best local basketball players in the Philippines.
Among these NCAA greats are Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, who were part of the San Sebastian Stags dynasty in the 1990s which bagged five straight championships from 1993-1997.
And for the two of them, these titles are really close to their hearts.
"Napakasarap nung experience, alam 'yan ni Coach Topex. Napakasarap nung experience nung college," said Santos, who was part of the 1993-95 team.
"Sabi ko nga kay Coach Topex, 'yung grupo namin na 'yun hanggang ngayon, 'pag nagkikita-kita masaya kasi when you [have] won together, that a special group of people of character na iba-iba, 'pag naglaro kami, kapag sama-sama kami, one goal kami."
"First college team na nag-champion ng limang beses, sunod-sunod 'yun," Santos emphasized. "Walang import. All-Pinoy lang."
For Robinson, the championships they reaped were really special.
"What I could really up to now be proud of is siguro, 'yung we're having this conversation today for about 26 years now since we won the championship. So it means it's really something special," Robinson added.
Santos also recalled one of their blockbuster games, in which he had to ask permission from an audience sitting on the floor to move so he could make his move.
"Masaya kasi, every game namin, puno 'yung Rizal Coliseum, napakainit noon," Santos, who was also NCAA Most Valuable Player in 1994, recalled.
"'Yung last game namin versus Mapua, mag-inbound ako sideline, hindi na ako maka-inbound kasi 'yung mga tao nandun na lahat sa court. Punong-puno na 'yung gallery, punong-puno na 'yung gym, nandun na talaga 'yung mga tao. Alam mo 'yung, [magsasabi ka ng] 'makikiraan po,' isang paa na lang 'yung ilalabas mo para ma-inbound mo. 'Yun 'yung 'di ko makakalimutan. That was 1994."
"Ganon karami 'yung nagmamahal na fans ng NCAA, lalo na sa San Sebastian, kasi we're winning and alam nila 'pag nanalo kami roon champion na talaga, which is talagang, nandoon sila to see us celebrate," he added.
A ticket to the future
Robinson and Santos both agreed that their stints as student-athletes paved the way for their future in basketball. The two played professionally after their collegiate years. Now, they are members of the coaching staff of different college teams.
"Sabi ko nga, college is the foundation going to kung anuman ang path mo," said Santos, who is now an assistant coach for the University of the Philippines.
Prior to his UP stint, Santos also handled the San Sebastian Stags back in 2015.
His fellow Stag Robinson, meanwhile, coached San Sebastian in the early years of the 2010s. He also was the head coach of Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) from 2014-2020, before becoming their team consultant.
"It's so special that up to now, it's been my ticket from college to amateur, to the professional, and up to now to coaching. So dala mo 'yun eh. That's how you were so blessed to be part of that generation wherein you build friendships," Robinson said.
"Even up to me now to coaching, I always look up to that, 'Sino ba dito 'yung mga galing NCAA?' Kasi if I have a choice, I would choose somebody I could call my own. I mean we might be of different generations but we belong to one institution."
Aside from being a champion during his collegiate years, Robinson also steered LPU to two Finals appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Robinson is now the head coach of Phoenix Fuelmasters in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Get to know more about the NCAA, its athletes, coaches, and teams, in 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96' which airs every afternoon on GTV.
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News
