The once mighty Red Lions

THE times I was able to watch a Red Lions’ game were very few since I graduated from San Beda way, way back. Those few games, however, were very memorable. Like the time when Sam Ekwe and company won the NCAA men’s championship in 2006 to end a 28-year title drought. Eventually, it was the start of a three-peat for the Red Lions.

It was a memorable day not only because the heartbreak kids of Mendiola finally ended decades of futility, but it also galvanized a community – the Bedans, the Benedictine monks and the alumni – long suffering for a title that last came in the late 70s and came

Fast forward to that fateful day in 2006, I took the MRT on my way to Cubao then. The coaches were filled with passengers in red, hoping, praying that day will be the V-day.

The coaches were quiet.

On my way back to Pasig, the scene was different. Everyone in red was hugging each other. Regardless of batch or from which college they were from, the atmosphere was electric, joyful and at the same time thankful and grateful after the Red Lions won the title, defeating the PCU Dolphins.

It was also the day that I probably set a personal best for most people hugged in a single day, and most of them were complete strangers to me individually, but as a whole, we belong to the same red and white community that was San Beda College.

The Red Lions went on to become the most dominant team in the 2000s. They were able to book a seat in the finals for 14 consecutive years. Aside from 2006 to 2008, the Red Lions won the title in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. After Ekwe, the Red Lions were bannered by a slew of

Baduria holds an 11-6-1 win-lossdraw record, highlighted by nine knockout wins due to his great striking ability. But he’ll be facing a notorious and undefeated opponent known for his wrestling and striking skills, that retired Arvin Chan last April 25 via a keylock submission.

“I will treat my rival with full respect by training hard and giving him the best fight. Whatever happens, I prepared myself, I worked on my wrestling, grappling and striking,” said Jones, who will be turning 27 on July 7.

Jones is undefeated in two fights with one knockout and the other by submission.

URCC founding president Alvin Aguilar and vice-president co-owner/ General Manager Aleks Sofronov announced that the addition of the first foreign student-players such as Ola Adeogun, Daniel Sudan, Donald Tankoua and Nunu Noah, to mention a few.

Winning came so easy for the Red Lions then that it was almost expected that the men’s basketball trophy would never leave Mendiola. Bedans who were so adamant in watching the games live became too lazy to attend the games to a fault because they knew then what would be the results. Moreover, the Red Lions got so used to winning until season 95 came. It was then the NCAA implemented a change that ultimately impacted the fortunes of the Red Lions and other teams in the league. It was the last season where foreign student-athletes were allowed to play in the tournament.

Since 2019, the Red Lions have not won the title again. Fast forward to Thursday last week. The Designated Kit Man was able to watch Game 1 of the best of three title series of the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup Finals between EcoOil La Salle and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig with fellow alumni Raul Roque, Ched Aragon and many more.

And after covering so many football games in the last decade, it was an opportunity for me to see the current Red Lions and to watch a basketball live for a change.

The opening sequences of the game were lit with the Archers and the Red Lions exchanging threes. Then it was downhill from there as one minute and 18 seconds left in that game, I was gonna cry already because this game meant a lot so much to everybody, especially myself,” said Animam, who became emotional with 1:19 left after new teammate Vanessa de Jesus scored on a floater off her rebound to hand the Filipinas an 86-76 lead.

Animam returned to action last January, a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while suiting up for Serbian club Radnicki Kragujevac.

“This is like my redemption year. I didn’t know if I’m gonna be the same Jack that I was before,” added Animam, who was around when the Philippines earned silver medals in women’s basketball and in the 3x3 cagefest of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

The New Zealand Ferns bounced back from their Day 2, 46-80 loss to China with a 76-45 triumph over Lebanon. Australia, which placed second in Group B at 2-1, took a 66-91 battering at the hands of Japan, will seek out the other semis berth when it meets Korea at 5:30 p.m. Gilas women’s coach Patrick Aquino said fans back in the Philippines are ecstatic over their chances.

PH ranks 2nd in 21st ASEAN chess tourney

THE Philippines harvested a total of 16 gold, 37 silver and eight bronze medals to finish second overall behind Vietnam in the 21st ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

International Masters Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio, Jr. spearheaded the country’s charge as the two each snared a couple of golden performances in the premier Open Under-20 section in this 10-day event that drew participation from 315 wood pushers from 16 countries, including those outside the region like Japan, China, New Zeal and, South Korea, India and FIDE (Russia).

grappling bouts in URCC history will boost action in the tournament majorly backed by online casino Atlantis.

The fight card is also supported by Angkas, and Lucas Lepri BJJ.

For Inquiries about future fight events, check the official URCC website www.urcc.online or download the official URCC app https://apps.wix. com/place-invites/join-lp/b4e05b9055a0-40a8-8fac17ccf4a2c074?ref=pre_ banner_top, available for iOS and Google.

In other scheduled bouts, Neil Larano and Joaquin Dy will clash in a welterweight grappling bout, while Gabriel Del Rosario and Gregorio Abalos face each other in an open weight grappling fight. Both will be the first grappling bouts in URCC history.

La Salle stepped on the pedal and never let go. Getting the most of a deep lineup, good motion offense and stifling defense, La Salle made the Red Lions look like an inter-barangay team.

The defending champions took the fight out of San Beda after the first quarter. By the time the first half ended, La Salle was way ahead, 59-33. They eventually took Game 1, at 108-82.

The Red Lions were listless during the game. They can’t execute plays, missing point blank shots on the rare times they have the opportunity to do so and heck, they can’t even bring the ball to their court due to the Green Archers’ defense. For context San Beda was caught violating the eight-second clock at least twice.

Four days later, La Salle completed the sweep, routing the Red Lions, 89-74, in the second game to win the title.

The Red Lions’ woes didn’t end there, though. Two days later, San Beda was beaten black and blue by the UP Fighting Maroons, 99-62, at the SBP Invitational Games. The Red Lions fell behind as much as 38 points against State U in the game.

Good thing though is the fact that this is just the pre-season for the forthcoming NCAA tournament. The downside is, if this is the line-up that will contend for the NCAA title in the next few weeks or months, then we have to temper our expectations. The Red Lions need to play better, defend harder and most especially, communicate with each other on the court. Against the defending champion Letran Knights and the emerging CSB Blazers and the rest of the competition, San Beda can’t win on just hopes and prayers.

Also delivering for the Filipinos were FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca (Open U18) of Panabo, Davao del Norte, Mar Viel Carredo (U12) of Quezon City, Millery Gen Subia (U10) of Cabanatuan, and Ruelle Canino (U16) and Ashzley Aya Nicole Paquinol (U12) both of Cagayan de Oro.

NCFP chairman/president Prospero Pichay lauded the team, which was also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, for its feat.

“Once again, our young Filipinos proved once more their talents. Despite the adversities and enormous challenges before them, they brought honor and pride to our great nation,” said Pichay.

The Philippines sent in 50 players, while Vietnam, which ran away with the overall title with a whopping 92-gold, 36-silver and 50-bronze haul, had 165.

During my college days in Mendiola, I never saw the Red Lions win a single game in the NCAA. The team was weak, so we resorted to winning the heckling game against perennial rivals such as Mapua, Letran and even San Sebastian just to make the trip to the games worthwhile. Despite this, the Red Lions then played with all their hearts and guts and were just happy to get rewarded with free meals at the canteen, and of course, the undying support of Bedans trying to go through calculus, statistics, accounting, economics, Jean Paul Sartre, Nietzche and Albrt Camus. Our generation then was used to losing. But we had fun losing then.

The current Bedans, however, are not used to seeing their Red Lions lose. More importantly, they are not used to seeing the men’s team lose by embarrassing margins.

Like they say, it’s better to lose the games during the preseason rather than during games when they actually matter. But then again.

I just hope the current coaching staff led by Yuri Escueta can make the needed adjustments to make the Red Lions a better team soon. I also pray that the Red Lions will also rediscover their mighty roar and pride once the tournament that matters begins.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!