Two-time champ San Beda coach Escueta sees third and fourth title
THE San Beda University Red Lions, just a day after claiming a 24th NCAA senior basketball championship and reestablishing itself as the greatest in the grand old league, is not done yet.
“There’s a third and fourth coming,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta when asked what will happen after he sealed his second championship as mentor of the Benedictine school.
Mr. Escueta wasn’t even joking.
He knew he would have enough materials to walk his talk.
Never mind that he would lose two key cogs in that memorable championship run in valiant skipper Yuki Andrada and Finals MVP winner Bryan Sajonia, who will both play in the PBA after their college sojourn.
And one of those important pieces San Beda will have come next season is super rookie Agjanti Miller, who had already committed to return the red-and-white squad next season that quashed nasty rumors of a potential transfer to other schools.
“I wouldn’t do this with anybody else,” said Mr. Miller, who posted the most points and made the Mythical First Team in NCAA Season 101.
“If we’re able to run it back here in the NCAA, I’ll run it back,” he added.
Another key part should be Nygel Gonzales, who was clutch and outplayed Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s own fantastic neophyte in Titing Manalili in the finals series including Game Two where the former poured in all his 19 points in the second half that helped seal the deal.
“I’m just happy to help my team win a second championship. We’re hoping for a third,” said burly guard from Lipa, Batangas. — Joey Villar
You May Also Like
Iran proposes reopening Strait of Hormuz to US, excludes nuclear terms
Supreme Court signals it may deal Trump major setback in mass deportation crusade
