THERE are programs that get hot for a year or two. There are dynasties that rise and fade.
Then there is San Beda – the one constant in modern collegiate basketball.
On Sunday at the Big Dome, the Red Lions escaped with an 84-81 thriller against Benilde in their do-or-die semifinals showdown and earned yet another spot in the finals of NCAA Season 101.
READ: San Beda frustrates Benilde anew to forge finals duel with Letran
That now makes it 19 playoffs in a row and 16 finals appearances out of those for the proud program from Mendiola. Through it all, they have also celebrated a dozen championships, with a possible 13th just two wins away.
That's not just consistent contention. That's the gold standard in all of collegiate basketball.
The standard is the standard
In the 'Grand Ol’ League,' there are teams that compete and there are teams that challenge.
San Beda, however? It's built to compete and challenge, and possibly celebrate, year after year.
Since 2005, the Red Lions have not missed a semifinal. They have outlasted generations of stars, shifts in style, and entire coaching cycles. They thrived when they were the favorites, and they somehow still thrived when they weren’t.
The University of the Philippines now boasts of the longest active playoff streak in UAAP men's basketball at seven and counting. Its rise has been remarkable and resonant.
READ: Would you believe it? UP now the standard for playoff consistency
But in terms of sheer longevity, San Beda moves the goalposts year in and year out - and its proud program remains something everybody else keeps looking up at.
Bedis-tradition
Ask anyone who has held the clipboard in Mendiola during this streak, and they will say the same thing: this did not happen by chance.
Former head coach Jamike Jarin, who steered the Red Lions to the Season 92 title, gave credit to the community.
As he put it, “You have to give credit to where credit is due. It’s all about the community. Without the students, without the alumni, this would not be possible. It’s always been a joint effort.”
“The big fighting heart of the players and coaches, that’s why we have that record. I’m just very proud to be a Bedan right now,” he added.
In Jarin's eyes, the banners hang because everyone carried them.
The streak survived transitions that would’ve broken other programs. With them, though, one era ended, but the contention continued.
During his time, multi-titled mentor Boyet Fernandez understood what Bedan values he inherited and what he had to pass on.
“It’s really the passion of the Bedista na ayaw talaga magpatalo. For all those years that I’ve been part of the Red Lions, we always wanted to win every game. Sino kalaban, laban kami. Consistently, we want to win all the time,” he said.
Then and now, that internal fire is the formula.
“Yung consistency na kahit sinong kalaban, laban lang kami. That’s why nasa playoff round kami lagi,” added Fernandez.
And even after stepping aside, he never really stepped away, as he now serves as a deputy under coach Yuri Escueta.
As he put it, “I’m happy with the way coach Yuri is doing with the Red Lions. Kahit nandito pa rin ako, sumusuporta pa rin ako. Whatever he decides, nandun ako sa likod niya.”
Today, the program is guided by Escueta, himself a product of San Beda’s system.
And for him, coaching the Red Lions is not just opportunity, it's obligation.
“Very lucky, of course, being part of San Beda, being part of the MVP Group. Players came, players left, but the program stayed the same. Hats off to them for how this was built and how it is now,” said the fourth-year shot-caller who won it all with the red-and-white in Season 99.
Escueta knows full well what’s behind San Beda’s success that remains the envy of many others in collegiate basketball.
“It’s just the tradition. The tradition gives you confidence. It pushes you to work harder, to win every game. That’s what it takes to play for San Beda,” he said.
The torch he carries may be heavy, but he embraces that.
“I’m lucky to have those coaches behind me. Coach Norman [Black], coach Boyet, the other coaches. Even coach Jamike and coach Frankie Lim are always supporting. Alam namin yung responsibility every time you represent San Beda,” he said.
Paint the town red-and-white
Winning once is impressive. Winning for 19 straight years is near-impossible.
Yet San Beda isn't just chasing titles, it's forcing everybody else to chase them.
Because you could not beat the Red Lions without becoming better. They've been the best for quite some time now - and it's just up to everybody else to try and take them down each and every chance they get.
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