SAN Beda will represent the country in the ANTA KAI Tour Jakarta 2026 where the Red Lions will play a 3x3 match in front of NBA superstar Kyrie Irving.
The Red Lions were chosen by ANTA Philippines and have formed a team composed of Jomel Puno, Zedjay Etulle, and rookies Daniel Marcelo and Sean Aldous Torculas to be coached by Yuri Escueta as they play against a professional team from Indonesia on June 30 in Jakarta.
READ Why Jomel Puno returned to San Beda for one more year
The game is part of Irving’s ANTA Asia Tour that will also include stops in cities in China before his visit to the Indonesia capital.
“We feel blessed to be able to represent our university, the Philippines and of course, ANTA. As a big Kyrie fan myself, having the opportunity to see Kyrie in person is an experience I am excited for,” said Escueta, who led the Red Lions to an NCAA championship in two of the last three seasons.
Puno, who won two championships with San Beda, is excited to see Irving in person. He has been a big fan since his younger days when he was still based in Canada and a product of the Toronto Basketball Academy.
“San Beda has been my home and family ever since I moved out here so being able to represent and carry the name of our school in another country makes me feel proud and really excited especially with the presence of one of the greatest NBA players I grew up watching with my dad back in the Cavs era,” said Puno.
“I’ve been wearing all of Kyrie’s shoes since his first one with ANTA and could never wear any other shoe since then.”
Edulle, an Aklan native who previously played at National University in the juniors and Centro Escolar University in college, added: “I’m really excited to represent not just San Beda but also the Philippines. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase the Filipino style of basketball and show everyone how Filipinos compete and play the game.”
“I feel blessed and excited knowing I get the chance to represent the school and the country as well as possibly getting to meet Kyrie Irving in person,” said Torculas, who joined the team as a transferee from University of the Philippines.
“It feels amazing being able to represent San Beda and our country. These are things that not a lot of people get to experience and I’m very excited to be part of it. It’s going to be fun playing against the Indonesian team and to do it in front of Kyrie, someone I grew up watching, is surreal,” said the previously Vancouver-based Marcelo.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
