Key losses: Evan Nelle, Donald Tankoua, Kemark Carino, and Calvin Oftana
Holdovers: Franz Abuda, James Kwekuteye, Damie Cunatapay, JP Bahio
Season 95 record: First runner-up
Tough will be the task for San Beda University as the Mendiola-based squad will look to regain its winning ways after a bridesmaid finish in Season 95.
The Red Lions will have a very different pack come Season 97, which kicks off on Saturday, March 26, with multi-titled head coach Boyet Fernandez still at the helm.
All eyes will be on Filipino-Canadian guard James Kwekuteye, a member of the Season 95 Mythical Five who will be tipped to make up for the departure of heavyweight teammates like Oftana, Nelle, Tankoua, and Carino.
Joining him are holdovers Franz Abuda, Damie Cunatapay, Pedro Alfaro III, Alex Roeland Visser, and JP Bahio, all of whom are part of the Season 95 squad that fell to archrival Letran during their epic best-of-three championship series.
They will be reinforced by former Red Cubs in Rhayyan Amsali, Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot, and Yukien Andrada while transferees JV Gallego (NU) , Gabriel George Cometa (UV), and Clifford Jopia (FEU) will finally rep the red and white colors for the first time.
Rounding out the San Beda roster are Ralph Penuela, who did not play last season 95 due to academic reasons, and Dan Rueben Villejo.
The NCAA Season 97 live games air every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday at 12:00 NN on GTV with replays every Monday and Thursday at 3:00 PM on GTV.
—JMB, GMA News
