By ANGELO JACINTO
FOR 17 years, varsity teams that sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan has backed in the UAAP and the NCAA either made the finals or won the championship altogether.
Thanks to San Beda’s late resurgence in NCAA Season 99, that streak will live on for the man fondly called as 'MVP' as the Red Lions made a grand return to the championship for the first time since 2019.
READ UP Maroons back in UAAP Finals after dethroning Ateneo Blue Eagles
After his alma mater, Ateneo, was eliminated by the UP Maroons from the UAAP Final Four last Saturday, things looked bleak for MVP as the Red Lions faced twice-to-win disadvantage against the second-seeded Lyceum Pirates in the playoffs.
But the Red Lions, who entered the semis having won four straight games, rode that momentum as they beat Lyceum twice in convincing fashion to mark their return to the finals and keep the famed sports patron’s streak alive.
While the Blue Eagles had an enviable run of success in the UAAP, it was the Red Lions that proved to be the constants for Pangilinan. From 2006 to 2019, they’ve won a five-peat and two three-peats in a run of sheer dominance for the Mendiola-based squad.
The two seasons after the pandemic were the ‘worst’ years for San Beda as they only made the semifinals in those seasons – an achievement for most teams, but not for the Red Lions.
The good thing was Ateneo remained on top of the UAAP during that stretch, as they finished runner-up in UAAP Season 84, and won it all again in UAAP Season 85 under coach Tab Baldwin.
While he keeps a lower profile in San Beda games, MVP no doubt played a big role in the Red Lions' return to the top.
A lot of the praise will be heaped on coach Yuri Escueta and breakout stars like Jacob Cortez and Yukien Andrada – and rightfully so – but their decision to add the legendary Norman Black to their coaching staff as consultant, and retain former head coach Boyet Fernandez – the architect of four of their 11 NCAA titles in this stretch, played a big role in the renaissance.
“Malaking bagay, the two of them, they’re coaches who’ve won it already not just once but multiple times, di ba?” Escueta said.
“Whatever yung mga decisions, they talk about it, they give their input, and of course as a young coach, I’d listen to these coaches. Iba yung winning experience nila.”
So someone's going to a collegiate finals this season if he feels like it - not in the UAAP but over in the NCAA.
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