Matinding depensa ang susi sa paghahari ng Red Lions

MANILA, Philippines — Tinutukoy ni San Be­da team manager Jude Ro­que ang kanilang mahigpit na depensa bilang dahilan sa muling pagwalis ng Red Lions sa kari­bal na Lyceum Pirates sa katatapos na best-of-three championship series ng Season 94 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Sinabi ni Roque na simula noong nakaraang taon ay ang Red Lions na ang nangunguna pagdating sa pagdepensa sa kanilang mga kalaban.

“Since last year, we’ve been the number one defensive team in the NCAA basketball tournament. It’s really been our defense that’s been winning championships for us,” sabi ni Roque.

Sa kanilang ikatlong su­nod na titulo at pang-11 sa nakalipas na 13 taon, nasungkit din ni coach Boyet Fernandez ang kan­yang pang-apat na kam­peonato sa NCAA kung saan tumabla rin siya kay dating San Beda mentor Frankie Lim sa pa­rehong record.

Si Lim, ngayon ay head coach ng University of Perpetual Help Altas, ay dating coach ng San Beda Red Lions kung saan naghari ang ko­ponan sa NCAA mula 2007 hanggang 2011.

 “I want to give credit to coach Boyet. I think coach Boyet is one of the most underrated coaches, but in my opinion, he is a top three college coach in the country today,” dagdag ni Roque.

Pinabagsak ng Red Lions ang Pirates sa Game Two, 71-56, para tuluyan nang masungkit ang kanilang pang-22 overall basketball crown si­mula noong 1924.

Nagwagi rin ang San Beda, 73-60, sa Game One.

“Now, coach Boyet is a four-time NCAA champion coach and I don’t think he’s getting enough credit for that. I really believe he deserves more credit than he is getting now,” pahayag ni Roque.

Sa kanilang pagde­de­pensang muli ng korona sa susunod na taon ay wa­­la na sa line-up ng San Beda sina Robert Bolick at Javee Mocon at pati si import Donald Tan­koua.

“We all know Robert and Javee will be turning pros and there’s a chance that Donald is not retur­ning anymore,” wika ni Fer­nandez. “We all know it was tough winning a title with them playing, what more if they’re not here.”

“It will really be hard finding their replacements and it’s going to be really tough for us next year without them,” dagdag nito.