Saint Clare College of Caloocan faces 2025 with a new, bigger challenge.
The Saints are gunning to extend their record title run in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU) men’s basketball tournament to eight straight when the league kicks off its 23rd season kicks off later in the year.
The team of coach Jinino Manansala ended 2024 on a high after retaining its title at the expense of Our Lady of Fatima University.
Led by Finals MVP Ahron Estacio and Rookie of the Year JB Lim, the Saints swept the last two games of the best-of-three title series to upend the Phoenix of coach Ralph Emerson Rivera.
It was the seventh consecutive championship and eight overall for the school, already eclipsing the five consecutive title wins previously recorded by NAASCU founding member University of Manila under the late coach Ato Tolentino.
“It was all hard work not only by the coaching staff but by the entire team as well," said Manansala whose father, 1978 PBA Rookie of the Year Jimmy Manansala, provided help from the bench by returning from the US where is now based.
Jimboy Estrada, now a solid mainstay at Letran, was part of the team’s previous championship before transferring from Caloocan to Intramuros.
NAASCU alumni who made it big in local basketball scene include Aris Dionisio, Jio Jalalon, Samboy De Leon, Chito Jaime, and Alvin Abundo.
League president Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem said NAASCU hopes to harness the best sporting talents outside the older collegiate leagues like the UAAP and the NCAA.
"Through the years we have shown that bigger leagues don't necessarily mean bigger talents," said Adalem who is also vice president of St. Clare.
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