Coach Yuri Escueta's arrival at the Red Lions' den may have ushered in a new era at San Beda University - but the young tactician believes a lot of credit should go to his deputies, a team led by champion coaches like Boyet Fernandez and Norman Black.
As San Beda put an end to a string of heartbreaks in the NCAA with their 76-66 victory over Mapua University in Game 3 of Season 99 Finals on Sunday, Escueta paid tribute to the coaches that helped him steer the ship.
"They really work hard. We all are students. Even me, I listen to the two head coaches. I listen to the younger ones," Escueta shared.
"We debate on everything. We talked about it. Para kaming nasa war room 'pag may coaches’ meeting. The most important thing about this is we have fun winning when we’re all together."
Fernandez and Black can be counted among the most successful coaches in the collegiate scene.
Fernandez led San Beda to four NCAA titles, including a three-peat from 2016 to 2018 before being replaced by Escueta in 2022 after two missed finals appearances in Season 97 and 98. Escueta dedicated the championship to his predecessor, whom he said started it all for his program.
"Sabi ko nga kay Coach Boyet, para kay Coach Boyet 'to eh. Wala naman ako dapat dito eh. 'Di ba? Kundi naman nangyari yung mga nangyari during the bubble, I shouldn't be here," Escueta said.
"Para nga akong babysitter. So I said, coach Boyet, para sa inyo 'to. Team niyo 'to, championship niyo 'to."
[I told Coach Boyet, this is for Coach Boyet. I shouldn't even be here, right? If not for what happened in the bubble, I shouldn't be here. I'm like a babysitter. So I said, Coach Boyet, this is for you. This is your team, this is your championship.]
Black, meanwhile, was the architect behind Ateneo de Manila University's five-peat title run from 2008 to 2012 in the UAAP. At Ateneo, Black coached Escueta back when the latter was still a player for the Blue Eagles.
However, Escueta credited Ato Badolato, the legendary high school coach of San Beda under which he also played for, for his winning attitude.
For Escueta, he's glad to be able to apply all the lessons he learned from his late mentor.
"When I came to San Beda, I learned from him what San Beda basketball is all about, the excellence and the winning tradition, early in my basketball career," Escueta said.
"He was the one who taught me all about this, molded the players to be winners, so sana he was here to see this, but I always try to talk to him when I’m by myself."
Aside from the two, San Beda's coaching crew is also boosted by young blood with Andrei Santos and Ralph Penuela, who was the Red Lions' team captain last season.
Completing Escueta's hardworking staff are Jenkins Mesina, Alex Angeles, and Francis Cruz, who all played a huge role in making sure San Beda would not finish another season empty-handed.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
