NEW coach, no problem for the San Beda juniors basketball squad.
Just like the seniors team, the Red Cubs have reached the finals of NCAA Season 89 but in even more impressive fashion, sweeping all 18 games in the eliminations.
And just like the Red Lions, San Beda's juniors team had to make the transition to a new coach at the start of the new season after longtime head coach Britt Reroma stepped down and returned to Cebu.
San Beda's senior team also underwent a major change on the bench when Boyet Fernandez took over from Ronnie Magsanoc, who stepped down after only one season as coach.
Despite the coaching change, the Red Cubs didn’t miss a beat as they stayed on pace for a fifth straight championship after gaining an outright berth in the finals.
However, San Beda star Javee Mocon admitted the transition wasn’t as easy as it looked, with the Red Cubs struggling to put their acts together under JB Sison during the Palarong Pambansa.
“Nung summer ‘yun tapos may Palarong Pambansa, talo kami nun,” said Mocon. “Nahirapan din kami kasi bago nga ‘yung coach.”
Once they made the necessary adjustments under Sison, the Red Cubs were simply too good for the opposition with a star-studded cast that includes Mocon, Arvin Tolentino, and Ranbill Tongco, among others.
“Nakapag-adjust na kami, tapos ‘yun, tuluy-tuloy na kami,” said Mocon.
After sweeping the eliminations, the Red Lions had to take a 16-day break before taking on La Salle Greenhills, which ousted San Sebastian stepladder playoff on Saturday.
The San Beda-La Salle game will be held on Monday.
Mocon likes the Red Cubs' chances, unperturbed as he is by the long break.
“Sanay na kami sa NCAA. Ganun talaga. Two weeks, hindi na bago sa amin ‘yun,” said Mocon.
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