Key losses: James Kwekuteye, JB Bahio, Tony Ynot
Key holdovers: Peter Alfaro, Yukien Andrada, Jacob Cortez
Season 98 record: 12-6 (4th)
Since January, San Beda University has been busy gearing up for the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament, which opens curtains on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Lions joined a number of preseason tournaments such as the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup and the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup where the Mendiola crew reached the finals against eventual champions La Salle.
Weeks after, San Beda flew to the USA to hold a two-week training camp where the Red Lions figured in several tune-up games with various teams in the said country.
They hope it would all translate to a better run this time around in the new season. After all, San Beda, a perennial title contender, missed back-to-back finals appearances in Seasons 97 and 98.
"So far, seven months in, we're doing good naman. We've started preparing since January," Yukien Andrada told GMA News Online.
"Very, very gigil kami na makapasok sa finals kasi we missed the last two finals. It's not usual na hindi nakikita 'yung San Beda sa finals so this coming Season 99, we're aiming for the finals and get the championship."
(So far, almost seven months in, we're doing good. We've started preparing since January. We're very eager to make it to the finals because we missed the last two. It's unusual that San Beda is not in the finals so this coming Season 99, we're aiming for the finals and get the championship.)
However, San Beda has to do all this with a retooled lineup.
The school has bid goodbye to star shooting guard James Kwekuteye as well as veteran bruiser JB Bahio, who are now both made it to the PBA with Blackwater and Terrafirma, respectively. San Beda also lost other rising stars Tony Ynot, Justine Sanchez, and Gab Cometa, all of whom have decided to rival De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
These exits definitely dealt San Beda a major blow, especially that Kwekuteye, Bahio, and Ynot were the three leading scorers in the previous season.
Still, Andrada and the rest of the crew stay defiant.
"Of course they're a big loss for us pero a lot of guys are stepping up for us now. I think with our current players, we're good naman even though we lost a lot of key players," the incoming third year cager stressed.
Still in the lion's den are holdovers led by team captain Peter Alfaro, Jacob Cortez, Damie Cuntapay, Clifford Jopia, Cyrus Llarena, James Payosing, Joshua Tagala, Aljay Alloso, Emman Tagle, and Alex Visser.
San Beda will also welcome back JV Gallego, who missed the previous season due to an injury, as well as highly-touted Filipino-Canadian rookie Jomel Puno.
Completing the lineup are NCAA high school standout from Mapua Nygel Gonzales and Jose Iñigo while John Lopez, John Peregrina, and Aaron Royo are listed as reserves.
NCAA Season 99 opens on September 24. Watch the games live on GTV.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
