Winning has long been a tradition for the San Beda University sports program.
From the likes of legends like Caloy Lozaga to today’s crop of Philippine basketball standouts such as Robert Bolick, San Beda University (SBU, formerly San Beda College or SBC) has etched its name in history books as one of the powerhouse sports teams in the country.
In recent years, the Mendiola-based squad dominated the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and won seven general championships in the seniors division in nine seasons from 2010-2019.
In the men's basketball alone, the Red Lions won the title from NCAA Season 86-90, and Seasons 92-94 and has been in the finals 14 straight times.
This tradition of excellence in the red-and-white squad dates back to 1924 when San Beda joined the founding group of the NCAA, along with Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle College, Institute of Accounts (which became the Far Eastern University), National University, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of Manila.
Lion's Den
Even in the early years of the NCAA, San Beda was already winning championships, and it was evident in their basketball history.
According to the school's website, the Red Lions bagged its first basketball trophy in 1927, just three seasons after the league was formed. San Beda also won three straight titles from 1934-1936. This would eventually become the seeds of San Beda's dominance and streaks in men's seniors basketball titles.
The San Beda college basketball program produced some of Philippine basketball's biggest names from Caloy Loyzaga, Abe King, Frankie Lim, to the current crop of professional players such as Bolick, Baser Amer, and Javee Mocon.
Aside from the seniors' program, juniors program produced many of the country's biggest collegiate, professional, and national players. It has been the training ground of players who would eventually be recruited by other schools and become future stars as well.
The Red Cubs saw the talents of the young Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Eric Altamirano, Dindo Pumaren, Ren-Ren Ritualo, LA Tenorio, Jvee Casio, Arvin Tolentino, and Andrei Caracut to name a few pass through their ranks. Credit should also be given to coaches of the storied juniors program, and especially legendary coach Ato Badolato.
Hardcourt rivalries
Contemporary sports fans may know of San Beda's rivalry with Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Cheers of Animo San Beda and Arriba Letran echo in the venue when the two teams meet on the hard court.
In the past years, it was Letran that broke the hearts of San Beda fans when they denied the Mendiola-based squad of men's basketball titles back in 2015 and 2019. Back then, accounts said the rivalry was already heated even back in the days of Loyzaga who would battle it out in the hardcourt against fellow legend Lauro Mumar.
San Beda also had a rivalry with San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the late 2000s to early 2010s when the two teams would face each other for three straight years (2009-2011) in the NCAA basketball finals.
Streaks and milestones
But not everything is basketball dominance for the Red Lions.
Aside from basketball, San Beda's swimmers also dominate the scene. As early as the 1930s, they won the Philippine Islands Swimming Association championships. In the early 2000s until now, the San Beda men's team notched 18 straight men's senior titles and won nine straight in the women's side since School Year 2011-12.
San Beda also holds 24 men's football titles, with their wins as early as 1927, 1928, and 1930. However, the majority of their titles came just at the turn of the millennium. They had 15 seniors' titles from the past 18 seasons, and had two back-to-back titles in the juniors division since School Year 2012-13.
Its taekwondo teams also dominated NCAA with its men's and women's team bagging ten titles from 2010 to 2019, and the table tennis teams bringing home 15 titles from 2008 to 2019 from their men's, women's, and juniors team.
For an esteemed institution like San Beda, these examples from their long tradition are proof that the Red Lions are truly royalty in Philippine collegiate sports.
—JMB, GMA News
