BISMARCK Lina finally made his long awaited debut with San Beda in Season 100 of the NCAA.
And none among the Red Lions were more ecstatic than RC Calimag.
It was Calimag who repeteadly convinced Lina to make the switch and join him at Mendiola from Diliman.
“Actually ako ang nag-sabi na lumipat na siya dito sa San Beda. Two months kong niligawan yan,” bared the 6-foot-1 guard. “So sobrang thankful ako sa kanya na lumipat siya and at the same time, nakasama ko na siya sa court.”
The two were teammates with University of the Philippines and won together a historic championship in UAAP Season 84 when the Maroons ended a long 36-year title drought and cut off Ateneo Blue Eagles’ stranglehold of the men’s basketball crown.
But both Calimag and Lina never got the chance to show their true worth with the Maroons in their two years stay with the program.
Less than a year after that championship run, Calimag, son of former PBA player Ricky Calimag, decided to go back to his roots and committed to play for the Red Lions.
A few months later, Lina followed suit.
Like a persistent suitor, Calimag would always make time to call on his former UP teammate to try and convince him to join him at San Beda.
“Araw-araw kong tinatawagan yan. Araw-araw kong pini-facetime. Kami pa ni Jacob (Cortez) before when he was in UP kinu-convince namin siya na lumipat ka na sa amin. Maglalaro ka talaga dito. Si coach Yuri, ibang klaseng coach, ibang klaseng tao,” he recalled.
After weeks of persuasion, Lina gave in.
“Yun naman ang gusto namin, break and trust the coaches and the sytem. So thankful ako,” said Calimag as he and Lina play their first season with the Red Lions after redshirting the previous year.
Lina’s San Beda debut however, took a little while as he suffered an ACL injury in the final months of 2023 shortly after spearheading the Gilas 3x3 men’s campaign in the Hangzhou Asian Games along with San Beda teammate Bryan Sajonia, John Rey Pasaol, and Justine Sanchez.
But two games before the end of the first round eliminations of the NCAA Season 100, the 23-year-old Lina finally suited up for the Red Lions and helped then sweep their remaining two games against Perpetual Help and Mapua to end up tied with the Cardinals and Letran Knights at second place with 6-3 records heading to the second round which kicks off on Friday.
Calimag is thrilled seeing his friend healthy and playing with him again on the court.
“Yung chance and at the same time fresh start, kasi clean slate talaga ang gusto nya and mag-grow siya as a player, mag-grow siya as an individual and maipakita niya ano yung kaya nyang maipakita sa loob,” he said of Lina.
Escueta acknowledged the huge contribution Lina will bring to the table as the Red Lions try to retain their title.
“Malaking addition si Bis sa amin. He gives a different dynamic for our offense, and dumadali yung buhay ni Yuki (Andrada) kasi nga may inside presence kami,” said the champion coach of the 6-foot-5 Lina a cousin of Terrafirma shooting guard Kevin Ferrer.
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