Entering National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99, no one really believed that San Beda University could seriously contend for the championship.
Except for the Red Lions, who went on to defy overwhelming odds, prove the doubters wrong and made believers out of them by clinching the diadem that mattered most — the men’s basketball crown.
“Not to be arrogant, but in our circle, we know our capabilities and have each other’s back,” San Beda coach said Yuri Escueta moments after their series and title-clinching 76-66 Game 3 victory over Mapua University at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
“Yes, there’s stuff that comes out of the media but the important thing is our belief in each other.”
San Beda was written off early following failures after failures but came out of the ashes by slaying the giants one by one to pull off one of the biggest Cinderella stories in league history.
“We joined the D-League, we went to Malaysia, and lost all of those tournaments. We went to Davao and we couldn’t beat even the local team,” Escueta said.
“But these players, they told themselves that they have to be resilient.”
“They are already used to adversity early in the season. It’s something we were able to bring into this run of us.”
San Beda’s top patron, Manny Pangilinan, and team manager Jude Roque both agreed.
“Eight do-or-die games and they crossed the finish line as champions,” Pangilinan said on his X account, referring to the Red Lions, who fought their way out of being eliminated from Final Four contention.
“Such a story. What a feat. Such courage and will — the Red Lions 2023.”
“To those who believed, even when so many others doubted, this one’s for you,” Roque, for his part, said.
Escueta also paid tribute to his coaches and mentors who helped and molded him on his path to glory — Norman Black when he was at Ateneo de Manila University in college, San Beda predecessor Boyet Fernandez and the late great Ato Badolato when he was still a Red Cub.
“Learned a lot from him (Black). This is for Coach Boyet. This is his team, this is his championship,” who regretted passing up two offers from Badolato to become San Beda’s high school mentor before the legendary bench tactician’s death two years ago.
“The winning attitude and experience were taught to me early by my high school coach (Badolato). I learned from him what San Beda basketball is all about, its excellence and winning tradition early in my basketball career and taught us, his players, how to be winners.”
“I always try to talk to him when I’m by myself. I would like to offer this championship as a thank you to him.”
