San Beda University is back on top of NCAA men’s basketball.
The Red Lions, a program almost synonymous with championships, rebounded from a Final Four exit in NCAA Season 100 to reclaim the crown this season.
While the arrival of key additions such as Janti Miller, Zed Etulle, and Jimmy Reyes played a major role, San Beda’s preseason training camp in Spain proved to be just as crucial, not only in sharpening their skills, but also in strengthening team chemistry.
“Mas na-feel ko na nabuo ang team ngayon especially sa offseason na pinagdaanan namin this year, which is marami kaming tournaments and preparations namin overseas,” San Beda team captain Yukien Andrada told GMA News Online back in August.
“I think very big help 'yung Spain trip kasi hindi lang kaming players ang natuto, kund pati mga coaches natuto,” he added.
(I felt that the team really came together more especially in the offseason with what we went through this year, which we had a lot of tournaments and preparation overseas... I think the Spain trip was a very big help because it wasn't just us players that learned, even our coaches learned things)
During their stay in Spain, the Red Lions trained under a European style of basketball with the guidance of Spain national team assistant coach Luis Guill.
Fast forward to December, Andrada said the lessons they learned overseas translated well once the NCAA tournament began, while the bond formed during the trip helped the team mature.
“All the things that they taught us there, we were able to use it here in the NCAA. And just the Spain trip that kami-kami lang nandoon in another country, just staying together, I think that really helped us be more together and know each other more,” he said after Game 2 of the Finals.
“Nung nagpunta kami ng Spain, nag-iba ang aura ng team namin, dynamics ng team namin na nakita ko from a leadership point of view,” said the Red Lions captain.
(All the things that they taught us there, we were able to use it here in the NCAA. And just the Spain trip that it was just us there in another country, just staying together, I think that really helped us come together and know each other more... When we went to Spain, there was a change in the aura of our team, the dynamics of the team, that I saw from a leadership point of view.)
“That's why I was really confident coming into the season that we can go all the way in this championship and win it.”
Andrada said he began to sense that a championship run was within reach early in the season.
“I think nung first three wins. Yeah, the first three wins in our group,” Andrada said.
San Beda opened its campaign with consecutive wins over De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Colegio de San Juan de Letran before suffering a surprising loss to Jose Rizal University. The Red Lions, however, quickly regrouped and closed the first group phase with a victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College.
“Even though we lost to JRU, Perpetual, I felt confident,” he said.
After the win against EAC, the Red Lions lost to University of Perpetual Help, followed by another one against Lyceum of the Philippines University. They responded, however, with three straight wins and wrapping up the elimination round with a loss to Letran.
San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta echoed Andrada’s sentiments, acknowledging the importance of the preseason camp while emphasizing that his belief in the team has always been there, despite some counting the Red Lions out in preseason discussions.
“Of course, start ng season. I had confidence in them. I know people put us at number 5 and number 6, but we always have confidence in ourselves and with one another,” Escueta said.
“Hindi ka papasok ng season na hindi ka confident na mag-champion ka.”
(You don't come into a season not confident that you can win the championship.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
