SENT crashing back to earth.
That’s what San Beda University felt after it was dethroned by College of St. Benilde in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament.
Red Lions coach Yuri Escueta admitted he and his troops were crestfallen when they absorbed a 63-79 rout at the hands of the Blazers in the Final Four last Friday.
“It was tough, of course, coming from last year’s cloud nine feeling. But, as I told the players nga, this feeling is something that this team needs to feel and it’s the same feeling that we felt two years ago and that feeling helped us fire our preparation for last season,” Escueta said. “It’s also a reminder to humble us from cloud nine feeling of being the defending champions. So, very positive naman everyone and of course, malungkot.
“Sana lang we could’ve played much better and hats off, of course, to CSB,” he added.
Escueta said the loss should serve as a humbling journey for the team and use it as motivation next season.
“Sabi ko nga, we need to prepare better next year kasi we got Bismarck (Lina) late in the season. We had guys in and out because of injury and all of those affected iyong off-season, pre-season namin,” Escueta said.
“Even during the season, malaking bagay sa amin iyong mga ganoong bagay.”
Escueta said the Lions can only get better.
“Basketball lang ito. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, siguro iyong ibang guys namin that were first time in this kind of atmosphere, parang medyo naka-feel sila ng pressure and it’s good also that they were able to experience this already,” he said. “In their first Final Four games sila tulad noong mga transferees from the UAAP, first Final 4. Yes, nag-Final Four iyong iba diyan pero ito iyong first time nila na sila iyong naglalaro—sila iyong nasa situation ngayon at sila iyong naglalaro. So, ano ito, welcome feeling and welcome experience for them.”
Three players— AJ Royo, Emman Tagle, Josh Tagala have sang their swan song for the Mendiola-based five while Yukien Andrada is still undecided whether to return to the team next year for his fifth and final playing year.
Meanwhile, the country’s oldest collegiate league opted to call off the Battle for Third clash between San Beda and Lyceum set for Dec. 7.
In a memorandum dated yesterday, management committee chairman Hercules Callanta said the league will no longer push through with the third-place match, listing a number of logistical issues.