The San Beda Red Lions aren’t just playing hosts to NCAA Season 102. They are also the defending champions of basketball, which is set to tip-off on September 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Needless to say, all eyes will be on Yuri Escueta’s squad.
Naturally, the two‑time NCAA champion head coach was asked during the NCAA Season 102 press conference this question: Which is harder to accomplish, winning back‑to‑back titles or ending a championship drought?
Winning Two Straight Titles Is Harder
For Escueta, winning two straight championships is much harder, citing what they endured back in Season 100.
“Mas challenging for me is ‘yung win back‑to‑back. We’ve been in this situation before sabi ko nga Season 100 and it wasn’t easy,” said the 41‑year‑old head coach.
After being crowned Season 99 champions, the Red Lions finished as the third seed the following season and had a twice‑to‑beat disadvantage. Facing the Benilde Blazers, head coach Charles Tiu and his men eliminated the defending champions in the Final Four.
“Of course having new guys, the season after you win a championship, ‘yung new guys is difficult, kase nga you lost your key players. Similar to what happened to us back in Season 100, we lost key players in our bid to go back‑to‑back,” he explained.
Before Season 100 began, starting point guard Jacob Cortez decided to take his talents to the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP. Meanwhile, other key players also departed due to graduation, including Peter Alfaro, Clifford Jopia, and Damie Cuntapay.
“So, challenging siya,” said Escueta with a smile.
Same Recipe for Disaster in Season 102?
It’s hard not to notice the similarities, but what’s happening to San Beda now feels similar to what happened a couple of years ago.
Explosive guard Janti Miller jumped ship, also to Taft, just like Cortez. Then, two of San Beda’s best players in Yukien Andrada and Bryan Sajonia turned pro, just as Alfaro, Cuntapay, and Jopia did.
Complicating matters for San Beda is the expected season-long absence of Nygel Gonzales, who is out due to an ACL injury.
With everything laid out, it’s hard to argue against Escueta’s point: winning two straight championships might just be a lot harder than ending a championship drought.
