The pain of San Beda University's finals loss to Mapua University back in 1991 still lingers with Teddy Alamarez even up to this day and a recent visit from him in the Red Lions' practice spurred the current squad's Game 2 resurgence against Mapua University.
Back in NCAA Season 67, more than three decades ago, with the series tied at one game apiece, that old San Beda squad seemed on its way to sealing its potential 12th championship as they led Mapua by a point in the final seconds, 90-89.
The Cardinals missed an attempt from downtown before Alamarez missed a boxout against Mapua's Benny Cheng, who would tip the leather for a legendary putback basket and the game-winning shot as Mapua copped back-to-back titles.
Though San Beda dominated the league by winning 11 crowns after that - and Mapua has not won a title since - the wound of the past remains fresh for Alamarez.
And that pep talk turned out to be all the motivation the Red Lions needed with their backs against the wall.
"He was the guy who missed the boxout kay Benny Cheng nu'ng 1991. 'Yung offensive rebound ni Benny Cheng and kinwento niya 'yung experience na 'yon," Escueta shared on the heels of their 71-65 win that forced a winner-take-all Game 3 next Sunday.
"Even now, naiisip pa rin niya 'yon. So he just told our players to fight until the end and not let the opportunities slip, which really encouraged and inspired everyone, not just the players, even the coaches."
[He was the guy who missed the boxout on Benny Cheng in 1991. He told us that experience. Even now, he still thinks about it. So he just told our players to fight until the end and not let the opportunities slip, which really encouraged and inspired everyone, not just the players, even the coaches.]
That definitely woke the lions inside of the San Beda players come Game 2.
They came out hot right off the bat, hitting five triples in the first half to take a 42-30 lead but they slowly lost rhythm in the third period where they got outscored, 23 to 6.
Mapua led by five after a Peter Rosillo triple, 61-56, and looked like they were just minutes away from ending a 32-year title drought.
But San Beda changed the narrative with Jacob Cortez hitting timely triples down the stretch to rally his side.
"Isipin mo 'yun, sinasabi niya sa amin na hanggang ngayon daw naiisip pa rin niya 'yun. So, 'yun nakatulong sa inspiration talaga," added Escueta.
[Imagine that, to this day, he still thinks about it. So that really helped inspire us.]
San Beda is definitely looking to build on this momentum heading to the Game 3 slated for a week from now at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"It's Game 3 so same intensity is what we want to bring to Game 3. It's a do-or-die game. Same lang sa ginawa natin today. Todo na 'to," he added.
"We've been in this situation before, not just one time but six times ata, five times na atang nangyari sa atin ito. The only thing we did is tell ourselves to stay together and huwag sumuko. Laban hanggang dulo."
[It's Game 3 so same intensity is what we want to bring to Game 3. It's a do-or-die game. Same as what we did today, we want to go all out. We've been in this situation before, not just one time but five or six times. The only thing we did is tell ourselves to stay together and don't give up. Fight until the end.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
