For most of NCAA Season 102, expectations were understandably low and few for San Sebastian, who was entering the campaign without a sponsor and a head coach that came in at the eleventh hour.
Yet even with the anticipated struggles on top of their already rough couple of seasons, the Stags still gave plenty of teams a run for their money.
In its latest showdown against a Titing Manalili and Kevin Santos-less Letran, San Sebastian breathed down the Knights’ necks until the last possession, only to fall to a Jimboy Estrada winner.
READ: Estrada makes sure Letran passes San Sebastian's surprise test
Though the Stags added their second photo-finish defeat after their previous heartbreak against Renz Villegas and Lyceum, head coach Rodney Santos still smells a breakthrough on the horizon for his erstwhile winless squad.
“Sabi ko una kanina, it’s a feel-good loss,” Santos said after the 91-89 loss. “In a team like Letran na champion team, talagang Final Four consistent, and with a veteran coach na si Coach Allen [Ricardo], para umabot tayo sa ganun klaseng game, its a huge achievement.”
“Nag-down the wire tayo against Benilde, nag-down the wire tayo against Lyceum, tapos ito, almost. On the good side, kaya niyo. Umpisa palang sinasabi ko na kaya niyo naman. You just have to believe.”
For all their late-game heartbreaks, the Golden Stags have yet to let their winless campaign wear them down.
Despite the mounting losses and distractions away from the court, Santos said his players remain upbeat in practice and determined to finally get over the hump.
“Very upbeat naman sila, and sabi ko kahit isa lang, one of those three games, mag-iiba yan. Sila naman makikita mong walang reklamo sa practice, [kahit] andaming distractions, hindi makatulog because walang aircon sa dorm," he said.
"Sabi ko we have all the excuses, pero siyempre, at the end of the day, it’s win or lose.”
With just three games remaining against EAC, Arellano, and Perpetual, the clock is ticking for the Stags to snap their 14-game losing streak.
Still, Santos is urging his players to focus on what remains within their control, rather than dwell on their winless campaign.
“Sabi ko, last three games, nothing to lose. Pero gusto ko lang, gawa kayo ng tama sa loob. Okay na yan. Wag na tayo maghangad from the very beginning. Hindi tayo naghangad ng Final Four. Let’s just win games.“
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