Their long-time coach may be gone and several key players are set to graduate but the San Beda Red Lions are aiming to build a dynasty around their recent title-conquest in the 85th NCAA juniors basketball tournament.
And one name makes them all upbeat - Baser Amer.
San Beda’s Ato Badolato, 2nd from right, holds his Coach of the Year trophy beside top player Amer Baser (No. 14) after the Red Cub’s title win in the 85th NCAA. GMANews.TV
The highly-talented Amer, who powered them to a 2-1 win over finals foe Letran Squires, giving multi-titled coach Ato Badolato and graduating players like Arthur dela Cruz, Marc Ludovice and Roldan Sara a fitting farewell party.
“He (Amer) is a talented and very special player, we knew he would make a big impact on his first year in the league and he didn’t disappoint us," Badolato said of his prized find from Davao who had to take a one-year residency before being eligible to play for San Beda this season.
Amer averaged a whopping 26.33 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the championship series to help the Cubs secure their first title in five years and 17th overall, next only to the Mapua Red Robins’ league-best 18 championships.
And Amer still has one more year to help the Mendiola-based school snare title No. 18 and tie Mapua as the most titled school in the oldest and one of the most prestigious leagues in the land.
Badolato, however, will not be around to coach the Cubs to juniors' basketball immortality as he plans to retire after steering them to 16 titles since taking over 37 seasons ago to concentrate on his job as San Beda athletic director.
Badolato said he has recommended long-time assistant Brit Reroma, who has been his understudy for years now, to succeed him.
San Beda's Amer Baser breaks the defense of Letran's Jose Cabigas and Jeff Ongteco in Game 3 of the NCAA junior's basketball finals. Jeff Venancio
“But I will still be around as team consultant. I will be there for the team but not in the same capacity as before," said Badolato, who has produced stars like Benjie Paras, Ren Ren Ritualo, Ronnie Magsanoc, Smart Gilas Pilipinas veteran JV Casio, LA Tenorio, Magnum Membrere, Ford Arao and RP Under-16 coach Eric Altamirano, among others.
Next year, Amer is also expected to carry a heavier load with dela Cruz, Ludovice and Sara graduating but he is likely to get a helping hand from fellow returnees Adam Abatayo, Al Gotladera and Chris Javier.
Abatayo came through with 15 points and five caroms, big man Gotaldera seven points, 11 boards and a block and Javier four points, two assists, a rebound and the post defense that helped San Beda pull off the series-clinching 86-75 Game 3 triumph.
The Cubs will actually be gunning for their first back-to-back title since accomplishing the feat thrice before - 1981-82, 1987-88 and 1995-96 - and possibly a third three-peat following romps from 2002-05 and 2006-08.
– GMANews.TV
