New challenge for Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines -  After winning the Filoil Flying V Cup senior men’s basketball title two weeks ago, San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez said his next goal is to retain the NCAA championship for the Red Lions in his return to Mendiola from a two-year stint with NLEX in the PBA. The Lions open the NCAA season against San Sebastian at the MOA Arena today.

Fernandez, 45, led San Beda to a pair of NCAA crowns in 2013 and 2014 then moved to NLEX. Last January, he went back to the Lions den, hoping to pick up where he left off. A portent of things to come was when Fernandez brought six Lions to the Cignal-San Beda team that won the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup last April. Then, Fernandez took the Lions on an 18-day US trip to bond and hone their skills with coach Joe Abunassar in Las Vegas and coach Jordan Lawley in Los Angeles.

At the Filoil Flying V Cup, San Beda finished with an 11-0 record, beating La Salle, 75-72, in the final that was decided in the last few seconds. Guard Robert Bolick, who languished on La Salle’s bench for two years before transferring to Mendiola, hit the triple that settled the outcome with 8.5 seconds left.

Fernandez said his challenge is to become the first coach to win the Filoil Flying V Cup and the NCAA title on the same year. The feat was accomplished only twice before by Norman Black and Aldin Ayo but they did it with UAAP teams. Former San Beda coach Jamike Jarin took the Filoil Flying V title two years ago but the Lions lost to Letran in the NCAA finals.

“For now, my goal is to win more championships for San Beda,” said Fernandez. “We want to win back-to-back NCAA titles. We’ll do everything to make it happen for Boss MVP (San Beda elementary and high school alumnus Manny V. Pangilinan) and the Bedan community. When I was first named San Beda coach, the community was probably wondering why me? I never studied at San Beda. But I was welcomed with open arms. I’m grateful to Boss MVP for his trust and confidence. I worked hard to earn the respect and support of the community and with everyone backing us up, we won two NCAA titles. When I returned, I was welcomed once again warmly. No negativity at all. It’s why I’m motivated to give back to the community and the Bedan priests, to thank everyone for supporting the Lions.”

Fernandez said this NCAA season won’t be a cakewalk. “Lyceum is a top contender with C. J. Perez then we have to contend with San Sebastian, Letran, Jose Rizal, Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo, Perpetual, Mapua and St. Benilde,” he said. “Our Team B, with six players moving to Team A, lost to St. Benilde recently so coach T. Y. (Tang) is making progress. No team is easy. Winning the Filoil Flying V Cup was a confidence booster for us. We’re losing Davon Potts after this season then we’ll lose Robert, Javee (Mocon), A. C. (Soberano), Jomari (Presbitero) and Radge (Tongco) after two years. So we’re recruiting now to fill up the coming gaps.”