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The San Beda Red Lions basketball program represents
San Beda University San Beda University () is a private university, private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution run by the Order of Saint Benedict in San Miguel, Manila, San Miguel, Manila, Philippines. It was founded by the Benedictines ...
(SBU) in men's basketball as a member of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA; ) is an athletic association of ten private colleges and universities in Metro Manila, Philippines. Established in 1924, it is the oldest collegiate athletic association in the country. It i ...
(NCAA). The
San Beda Red Lions The San Beda Red Lions and Lionesses are the collegiate varsity teams of the San Beda University, best known for their basketball section.Malonso, J. ''"NCAA: A HISTORY''". NCAA(Phils) Homepage. Online. Internet. Accessed 23 May 200NCAA Philippi ...
are the only remaining founding team in the NCAA.


History

Then known as San Beda College (SBC), the Mendiola-based school co-founded the NCAA in 1924, winning its first seniors' basketball title in 1927, then three straight titles from 1934 to 1936. Their three-year title run during the 1930s was led by Charles Borck.


Zamora Cup and 1970s back-to-back titles

The Zamora Cup was awarded to the first NCAA team that wins three titles after
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. San Beda led by
Carlos Loyzaga Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga y Matute (August 29, 1930 – January 27, 2016) was a Filipino basketball player, coach and politician. He was the most dominant basketball player of his era in the Philippines and is considered as the greatest Filipino ba ...
emerged as the frontrunner in 1952, winning two titles by then. The
Ateneo Blue Eagles The Ateneo Blue Eagles are the collegiate varsity teams of the Ateneo de Manila University that play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere collegiate league in the Philippines. The Ateneo collegiate ...
then won the next two titles. In 1955, San Beda and Ateneo made it to the Finals, in which the Red Lions won and kept permanent possession of the trophy. San Beda finished the 1950s with another title in 1959, this time led by
Alberto Reynoso Alberto C. Reynoso (May 14, 1940 – November 22, 2011), also known by his nickname "Big Boy" Reynoso, was a professional basketball player from the Philippines. During the 1960s to 1970s, Reynoso played in the amateur basketball tournament of t ...
. San Beda would not a win title again until 1977. Coached by
Loreto Carbonell Loreto "Bonnie" Dilema Carbonell (1933 – 23 September 2017) was a Philippines, Filipino basketball player who competed in the Basketball at the 1956 Summer Olympics, 1956 Summer Olympics. Career Playing career Sometime during his early years, F ...
and led by Frankie Lim and Chito Loyzaga (Carlos's son), the Red Lions defeated Ateneo, with the deciding game being played behind closed doors due to rampant hooliganism at that time. The Red Lions defended their title in 1978, defeating the De La Salle Green Archers. San Beda withdrew from the NCAA in 1984 to focus on intramural events;


Return to the NCAA

San Beda returned in 1986 The Red Lions made it to the Finals in 1991, only to be thwarted by Benny Cheng's game winner for the Mapua Cardinals. They made another Finals appearance in 1996, this time against the undefeated four-time defending champions San Sebastian Stags but lost. The Red Lions again made it to the Finals in 1997 but were again defeated by the Stags. During this back-to-back Finals appearance, they were coached by Dong Vergiere. San Beda won't make it to the playoffs again until 2004. On that season, they took the
Perpetual Altas The Perpetual Altas and Lady Altas, or the UPHSD Altas and Lady Altas, are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) teams of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. They are also popularly known as the Perps. Since join ...
to two games in the semifinals before they were eliminated. Nash Racela, who was coaching the Red Lions at this time, was sacked at the middle of the next season and was replaced by Koy Banal.


Dynasty

In the 21st century, the Red Lions have qualified to 14 consecutive Finals, from 2006 to 2019. This was after a successful "End 28 at 82" run where they defeated the PCU Dolphins to end their 28-year title drought during the NCAA Season 82. The iconic team coached by Koy Banal the Red Lions were led by Yousif Aljamal, Ogie Menor and Nigerian import Samuel Ekwe. The next year, they matched the 1977–78 team by winning back-to-back titles defeating the Letran Knights. The Red Lions made it three consecutive titles in 2008, beating the JRU Heavy Bombers. The Red Lions were now gunning for a fourth consecutive title, but were stopped by San Sebastian in 2009. The Red Lions won the next two Finals match-ups against the Stags. In the basketball offseason, the Red Lions men's basketball team were involved in a brawl with the San Sebastian women's volleyball team; this led to the NCAA suspending Lim for two years. Lim left the Red Lions and was replaced by Ronnie Magsanoc. With players like Garvo Lanete, Borgie Hermida and American import Sudan Daniel, Magsanoc coached the team to a convincing Finals decider against Letran. Boyet Fernandez replaced Magsanoc in the next season, and won two more titles, in 2013 with a rematch against Letran, and in 2014 against the Arellano Chiefs. This five-year title run matched San Sebastian's domination from 1993 to 1997. Seeking an unprecedented sixth straight championship in 2015, the Red Lions, now coached by Jamike Jarin, faced Letran anew in the Finals, the Knights won, and stopped San Beda's title run at five. The team would return in the Finals in 2016, against the Chiefs; bannered by Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon and Finals MVP Arnaud Noah of Cameroon, Jarin clinched his first NCAA title against Arellano. Fernandez returned in 2017, and won two consecutive titles against the Lyceum Pirates, being reinforced by the Cameroonian Donald Tankoua. In their 21st Finals appearance, the 2020 Red Lions faced the last team that defeated them in the Finals in Letran. The Knights won in the Finals in three games. Due to the COVID pandemic, the NCAA did not hold the basketball events in the 2020 season, and played the 2021 tournament in early 2022. San Beda were upended by the Mapua Cardinals in the elimination round and entered the playoffs without the twice-to-beat advantage. The Cardinals eliminated the San Beda, snapping their Finals streak at 14 years. Management decided not to renew Fernandez's contract, and hired Yuri Escueta to replace him. Escueta coached the Red Lions to another Final Four appearance, but failed to progress to the Finals, losing out to the Benilde Blazers. On his second campaign, Escueta led the Red Lions to a third seed finish after the eliminations, then upset the Lyceum Pirates in the semifinals. San Beda won the title in three games, defeating the #1 seed Mapua Cardinals.


Current roster

NCAA Season 100


Head coaches

* 1950–1954: Felicisimo Fajardo * 1955–c. 1959: Arturo Rius * c. 1977–c. 1978:
Loreto Carbonell Loreto "Bonnie" Dilema Carbonell (1933 – 23 September 2017) was a Philippines, Filipino basketball player who competed in the Basketball at the 1956 Summer Olympics, 1956 Summer Olympics. Career Playing career Sometime during his early years, F ...
* 1988: Conrado Castañada * 1989–1991: Orlando Castelo * 1991–1992: Boy Ascue * 1993–1994: Rogelio Melencio * 1995–1999: Dong Vergeire * 2000: Ato Badolato * 2001: Rene Baena * 2002–2003: Jonathan Reyes * 2004–2005: Nash Racela * 2005–2006: Koy Banal * 2007–2011: Frankie Lim * 2012: Ronnie Magsanoc * 2013–2014: Boyet Fernandez * 2015–2016: Jamike Jarin * 2017–2022: Boyet Fernandez * 2022–present: Yuri Escueta


Retired numbers

* #14,
Carlos Loyzaga Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga y Matute (August 29, 1930 – January 27, 2016) was a Filipino basketball player, coach and politician. He was the most dominant basketball player of his era in the Philippines and is considered as the greatest Filipino ba ...
(2016)


Season-by-season records


See also

* FilBasket


References


Further reading

* "A Time to Roar: Ending 28 at 82: Reviving the Bedan Animo" by Jude P. Roque {{NCAA-PH men's basketball National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) basketball teams Philippine Basketball League teams San Beda University