Peter Alfaro hopes to join Bolick, Amer on list of notable San Beda players in PBA

There's no doubt that San Beda University is a proven breeding ground of future basketball stars.

It has been since the days of Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga, who steered the school to three NCAA titles in the early 1950s and later his son, Chito, who continued his legacy in Mendiola and suited up for the Red Lions as well from high school to college.

In modern times, the school boasts a number of alumni now in the PBA with the likes of Robert Bolick (NLEX), Baser Amer (NLEX) Calvin Oftana (TNT), Anjo Caram (Meralco), Rome Dela Rosa (Magnolia), Javee Mocon (Phoenix), and Kyle Pascual (Meralco) showing the might of true Red Lions.

And as the lone San Beda product to be selected during the recent Season 49 Rookie Draft, aspirant Peter Alfaro is hoping to live up to the legacy of those who came before him.

"Actually, ‘pag sa San Beda ka kasi normal na ‘yung pressure so coming into this, syempre ie-embrace ko ‘yung challenge kasi maraming mga PBA stars na ngayon, lalo na si kuya Roberto Bolick, si Baser Amer, sila ‘yung mga taong nilu-look up to ko," Alfaro, who was picked by Terrafirma in the third round, told GMA News Online.

"And syempre every time I play in a basketball court, dala ko ‘yung San Beda eh so I'm just gonna go hard and prove myself sa team and hopefully tumagal ako sa PBA."

[Actually, when you're from San Beda, pressure is normal so coming into this, I embrace the challenge because there are many PBA star, especially Kuya Roberto Bolick, Baser Amer, those are the people I look up to. And of course, every time I play in a basketball court, I carry the San Beda name so I'm just gonna go hard and prove myself to the team and hopefully, I can be in the PBA for a long time.]

Of course, Alfaro knows the job won't be a walk in the park.

But the 5-foot-11 guard said the winning culture and go-hard mentality that San Beda ingrained in him over the course of his five-year stay could be the difference maker, especially having been under renowned coaches.

In his collegiate stint, Alfaro played under former head coach Boyet Fernandez and current shot-caller Yuri Escueta, both of whom have experience coaching in the PBA as well. Alfaro also got the chance to learn from seasoned tactician Norman Black, who serves as a consultant for the Red Lions bench.

"Actually si Coach Yuri kasi always niya akong nire-remind na lumaban," Alfaro, who was part of the Season 99 champion team, added.

"‘Yun kasi ‘yung tinuturo niya sa amin, ‘yung mental toughness sa San Beda and at the same time, being smart sa court so I’m very blessed to be under him and Coach Boyet Fernandez and Coach Norman."

[Coach Yuri always reminds me to keep fighting. That's what he teaches us, the mental toughness of San Beda and at the same time, being smart on the court so I'm very blessed to be under him and Coach Boyet Fernandez and Coach Norman.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News