Continuing a winning tradition was a dream that the San Beda Red Lions fulfilled when they claimed the Season 101 crown of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
They’ve won it first in 1927, and it did not stop there. It went on for the next 97 years until last Saturday, when they took Game 2 and swept their best-of-three finals series with the Letran Knights, 83-71, at the Araneta Coliseum, for their 24th championship.
“Nanood lang ako sa kanila. They really wanted the championship,” said Red Lions’ coach Yuri Escueta on members of the squad in showing hunger and desire to get the crown — making the Mendiola dribblers the most decorated squad in league history, with the Letran Knights behind with 20.
“Hats off to the players, to the leaders, Yuki (Yukien Andrada) and Bryan (Sajonia), and the other guys, for stepping up, and for really taking on the mantle of leadership, and leading this team back to the championship,” added Escueta.
The Red Lions’ run of titles also includes a ‘three-peat’ from 1934 to 1936.
Then, there’s the ‘five-peat’ from 2010 to 2014 and two other ‘three-peats’ from 2007 to 2009 and 2017 to 2019.
“Just thankful for the hard work that the players did throughout the season. Last year was really as struggle for us,” said Escueta after the Red Lions bowed to the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the Final Four last season.
Past rosters included the likes of legendary players, who went on to have successful careers, including Carlos Loyzaga, Abe King, Frankie Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, and LA Tenorio.
This current batch of players includes Andrada, who has been drafted as the sixth overall pick in the first round of the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft. He will soon play for the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots.
For Andrada, this will be his second championship, as he was around when the Red Lions conquered the Mapua Cardinals in the Season 99 finals.
Then there’s Sajonia, another recently drafted player in the PBA set to begin his professional career with the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Escueta commended Sajonia for the things he has done in the tournament, after he was hailed as the Finals’ MVP.
“Whatever he achieved today, he deserves it. Nakita ko ‘yung work, he’s listening, and very coachable,” said Escueta of Sajonia, who averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds during the finals.
