IT was déjà vu for me when I went to watch the second game in the NCAA Season 94 men’s basketballbest-of-three finals series between defending champion San Beda University Red Lions and the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates at the Mall of Asia Arena last Monday.
I seldom go out now and watch live events unlike my younger years so many pounds and black hair ago when I do not miss major basketball events in the NCAA, UAAP, MICAA, PABL, and PBA.
But I did enjoy the game that saw the Red Lions sweep the Pirates in two games after winning Game Two, 71-56.
And in winning its 11th title in the last 13 years, and their league best 22nd crown overall, it also brought memories of the team building sessions I did for the San Beda team then under Frankie Lim that won its first three-peat, making this year’s accomplishment as the third three-peat for the Mendiola-based squad.
I enjoy watching NCAA or UAAP games because this is where I see grown-ups and senior citizens act like children again cheering their team on, celebrating with wild abandon, shedding tears in public for the losing squad’s supporters, and also hearing instant basketball experts analyzing a play or even telling coaches what to do.
In the case of San Beda, it is good to see that through the years, the old Indian yell cheer of the school has been maintained and remains a constant in the NCAA.
I just do not know if San Beda intends to stay in the NCAA or move up to the UAAP, something I have been hearing for quite some time already with the scuttlebutt that the school was just waiting for the change in status into a university before making the move.
Now that would be sad for the NCAA.
Going back to the game, I was also looking forward to seeing CJ Perez of LPU play.
This is the guy who was suspended by the NCAA in Game One because of a procedural lapse with his applying for the PBA Draft.
Despite his presence in Game Two — and he did make an impact with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists — it was evident to me that the Red Lions were just bigger, faster and more efficient in running their plays.
This was compounded by the poor shooting by the Pirates even at close range and from the free throw line that allowed the Red Lions to maintain a steady lead throughout the game.
And when LPU threatened to inch closer at 47-51 with a little over eight minutes left in the final quarter, San Beda retaliated with an explosion of back-to-back triples. And before they knew it, the Pirates were hopelessly behind by 20 points with just over a minute to go.
What San Beda accomplished showed how a basketball program should be run. One does not win 11 titles in 13 years without a solid program behind it and credit of course goes to its patron Manny V. Pangilinan who contributes the most for San Beda’s basketball program so much so that the school practically has no say in the selection of coaches and players.
Well, that is the price the school pays but in return, they get to win a title so why argue with a winning formula after all?
Now the pressure will be on Ateneo.
What San Beda is to the NCAA, Ateneo is to the UAAP. And like San Beda, Ateneo’s main patron is also MVP.
Will the Blue Eagles also continue their winning tradition?