It is not surprising that San Beda University is seen as the heavy title contenders in the NCAA Season 100.
After all, the Red Lions are coming into the centennial edition all pumped and geared to retain the title in Mendiola with head coach Yuri Escueta still at the helm, steering the squad with a mix of veterans and new players.
While Escueta is glad to hear how his fellow coaches see them as the easy favorite to win the title anew, the third-year tactician stressed his squad is far from reaching its championship form.
In fact, Escueta shared they only have seven holdovers from last season, making their title defense campaign a more daunting task to complete especially with the rest of the field hungry to snatch the crown away from them.
"Again, I have yet to see my players play in an NCAA season kasi iba ‘yung preseason sa NCAA. Hindi pa sila nagiging buo kasi may iba na bagong dating lang," Escueta told GMA News Online on Tuesday.
"Pero kasama sa trabaho namin ‘yan. Of course, humbled din ako na ayun ‘yung tingin nila but again, hopefully, tama sila."
Leading the fight for the Red Lions are team captain and fourth year Yukien Andrada, alongside six other holdovers in Nygel Gonzales, James Payosing, Jomel Puno, Emman Tagle, Joshua Tagala, and AJ Royo.
But this isn't entirely a new situation for Escueta and the Red Lions.
San Beda had seen players come and go in the past, the latest ones were the troika of Tony Ynot, Justine Sanchez, and Gab Cometa, all of whom have decided to transfer to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and will make their return this season.
Before that, San Beda also bid goodbye to a young talent in Rhayyan Amsali, who took a sabbatical leave in 2023 before jumping ship to UST in the UAAP while star guard James Kwekuteye didn't play his final year in Season 99 and went professional.
San Beda also lost a reliable guard in Jacob Cortez, who led the school to an unlikely title run last year before bringing his talent to La Salle.
"Back to zero kami," Escueta lamented.
"Sabi ko nga, hindi naman bago sa amin ‘yun kasi every time na naka-San Beda uniform ka, lahat ng teams gusto kang talunin eh pero hindi naman bago sa’min ‘yun."
All San Beda can do now is face the challenges ahead of them and see how it goes from there.
"Oo [mas mahirap i-defend ang title] kasi last year hirap na hirap kami manalo, so mas lalo na ngayon," Escueta said.
"Every year parang bago ‘yung team ko, ‘yun ‘yung challenge sa amin and hopefully we can get better as the season progresses."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
