When the mushroom cloud dissipated, it was San Beda University that came on top of the Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament.
The Red Lions snapped a five-year title drought by scoring a 76-66 victory over the Mapua Cardinals in Game 3 before over 23,000 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was a feat that wasn’t on most people’s minds when the tournament began as San Beda fielded a team that didn’t have James Kwekuteye and JB Bahio and the troika of Tony Ynot, Justine Sanchez and Gab Cometa, who had all gone to College of Saint Benidle.
But head coach Yuri Escueta remained unfazed amid pre-season picks pointing to deposed titlist Letran College and Saint Benilde and even Lyceum of the Philippines as legit title contenders.
“Not to be arrogant, we know what our capabilities are. We had each other’s backs,” Escueta said, who is this season’s Coach of the Year.
“I’m very proud of them on how they developed their character.”
Mapua won Game 1 before San Beda fought back to force a decider.
Before the race-to-two affair, the Lions had to win their last four games in the elimination round to get into the Final Four where they shocked the Pirates twice.
Despite its late surge, San Beda, according to courtside experts would meet its match in Mapua, a squad oozing with talent.
Against a troika of Paolo Hernandez, Warren Bonifacio, and Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis, the Lions stood their ground, banking on defense to get the job done.
“Just play defense. I told them defense would be the key to winning this game. We have pride in our defense,” said Escueta, who had veteran mentors Norman Black and Boyet Fernandez as consultants.
“I learned that from Coach Norman and Coach Boyet has been winning his championships through defense,” said Escueta, who won a University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2008 while suiting up for Ateneo de Manila University.
With three minutes and 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter, San Beda got the finishing kick it needed with an 8-0 run, capped by two free throws from Oliver Tagle with 16 seconds left, to turn a paltry 68-63 lead into a 76-66 advantage.
Yukien Andrada led the Lions with 20 points and six rebounds while Finals Most Valuable Player James Payosing had a double-double game of 11 points and 14 rebounds.
While the Mendiola-based school finally won it all without any foreign student-athletes, Escueta said it was sheer will that propelled the Lions to the crown.
“Aside from the tradition, it’s about doing your best every time. That has been the mantra of San Beda basketball. You have to excel in everything you do,” Escueta said.
Payosing, for his part, deflected the credit to Escueta, who helped him hone his skills while also being tasked to guard the star players of opposing teams.
“When the award was announced, I did not expect to get it because since the season began, my role is to defend the star player of the opponent,” Payosing said.
“Coach Yuri is always patient with me. He would help me and whatever he needs me to do, I do it.”
JC Recto led Mapua with 18 points as the team will be losing Warren Bonifacio after exhausting his playing years.
Yesterday, the Cardinals simply just could not escape from the Lions’ den.
