San Beda University head coach Ariel Dela Cruz is beaming with optimism that his team will only get better after finishing as runner-up in the NCAA Season 98 men’s volleyball tournament.
The Red Spikers exceeded expectations this season, finishing as the third seed after the elimination round to punch a ticket to the Final Four. They continued to impress there, beating Emilio Aguinaldo College then Arellano University to formalize their return to the championship round for the first time since 2012.
In the Finals, they also managed to snap University of Perpetual Help System DALTA’s impressive 32-game winning streak dating back all the way to Season 93 as they took Game 2 of the series.
And this even though San Beda paraded a young, inexperienced team in Season 98, coming so close to giving the school potentially its first-ever championship.
Although they fell short of the title, Dela Cruz believes his wards will come out tougher and stronger come Season 99 and the seasons after that.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, natalo tayo sa game pero sa puso’t isip ko [ay] champions sila kasi pagpasok namin sa NCAA, ang hiling ko lang sa kanila ay makapasok kami sa Final Four and mas nalampasan pa nila ‘yung hamon ko,” Dela Cruz said on Sunday.
“Sabi ko nga, naguumpisa pa lang kami.”
("I told them, we lost the game but in my heart and my mind, my players are champions because when we entered the NCAA, my only wish was to reach the Final Four and they exceeded my challenge for them... Like I said, we're only just beginning.")
Except for Jerome Lopez and Lorenz Calayag, San Beda is composed of rookies led by high-flying Ralph Cabalsa, whose 19-point outburst in Game 2 allowed them to level the series.
San Beda is also tipped to lean on incoming sophomores Justine Santos, Kenrod Umali, Mohammad Tahiluddin, Ryan Rosman, and AJ Rus.
But Dela Cruz stressed that if they want to live up to their potential and lift the trophy someday, they need to keep their eye on the prize.
“[Ang kailangan namin ay] ‘yung disiplina and sa training, walang pa-easy easy and focus lang sa goal.”
("What we need is discipline, and no one takes it easy in training, and focus on the goal.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
