MANILA — Defending champion San Beda University will launch its NCAA Season 102 title defense without a single starter from last year’s championship squad, leaving head coach Yuri Escueta to steer a rebuilt Red Lions lineup against an increasingly formidable field.
San Beda lost key players to graduation, transfers and the professional ranks, while an ACL injury to starting point guard Nygel Gonzales further complicated the Red Lions’ preparations for their bid to retain the men’s basketball crown.
Despite the major roster overhaul, Escueta believes San Beda’s early offseason preparations have put the team in position to contend again.
“As a coach, satisfied ako sa preparations namin and the tournaments we’ve joined sa Filoil, Asiabasket. Those are tournaments where we prepared ourselves,” Escueta said during the NCAA Season 102 press conference.
“Our offseason was challenging. Our starting point guard, Nygel Gonzales, got injured even before our title defense started. The good thing was we were able to address it early because we still had time to play in the offseason without him.”
Aside from Gonzales’ injury, the Red Lions lost Janti Miller, who transferred to De La Salle University, while Bryan Sajonia, Joe Celzo and Yukien Andrada have moved on to the PBA.
The departures mean San Beda will enter Season 102 without the entire starting five that powered its championship run last season, forcing Escueta to rely on a new group to keep the Red Lions atop the NCAA.
Their rebuilding challenge comes as several rivals have strengthened their respective programs.
Lyceum University and Mapua University bolstered their coaching staffs with former PBA mentors Jamike Jarin and Chito Victolero, respectively.
Letran, meanwhile, will feature Titing Manalili, who emerged as the league’s Rookie and Freshman of the Year last season.
Jose Rizal University could also contend after narrowly missing the Final Four last season with a 6-7 record. The Heavy Bombers will be handled by coach Nani Epondulan.
Escueta acknowledged that defending the championship with a retooled roster against stronger opposition will be difficult, but said confidence remains high within the San Beda camp.
“Everyone’s very positive. Me, as a coach, I’m confident sa team ko but we know it’s going to be a challenge because all the teams got stronger,” he said.
The Red Lions will now attempt to prove that their championship pedigree can survive a massive roster turnover as they chase back-to-back NCAA men’s basketball titles./PN
