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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider San Beda out to defend NCAA crown

San Beda out to defend NCAA crown

Published Aug 31, 2026 05:27 pm

At A Glance

  • Despite losing several of its key players, reigning champion San Beda University remains unfazed ahead of its title defense in the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament which fires off Sunday, Sept. 13, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
(NCAA Images)
(NCAA Images)
Despite losing several of its key players, reigning champion San Beda University remains unfazed ahead of its title defense in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament which fires off Sunday, Sept. 13, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Still under the guidance of head coach Yuri Escueta, the Red Lions welcome seven new players who will try to fill the void with the departures of Yukien Andrada, Bryan Sajonia, Nygel Gonzales, Joe Celzo, and Agjanti Miller.
“Together with holdovers and new players namin, hopefully, they can step up and ma-fill ‘yong void dahil sa mga nawalang key players namin from last season,” said Escueta during this season’s press conference Monday, Aug. 31.
“We are expecting a tough challenge. It’s hard to go back-to-back if you lose key players for different reasons… of course, ganun pa rin ‘yong goal namin, to win the championship again,” he added.
Andrada, Sajonia, and Celzo jumped to the professional ranks in the PBA, while Gonzales suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Miller, on the other hand, has decided to transfer from San Beda to De La Salle University which was reminiscent of what Jacob Cortez did in Season 99.
Escueta admitted that the Red Lions expect a tougher climb this season.
“Just like last year, we’re going to take it one game at a time, and will focus lang muna on ourselves,” Escueta continued. “Tignan natin kung papaano maglalaro ‘tong mga holdovers natin pati mga bago. We’ll try our best na ‘yon nga, ma-defend ‘tong title.”
Jomel Puno is fulfilling his promise of playing his final year as he spearheads San Beda, which is bracketed in Group A alongside Benilde, Jose Rizal University, Lyceum, and Mapua.
Group B, meanwhile, is composed of Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College, San Sebastian, Perpetual, and last year’s bridesmaid Letran.
The grand old league uses the same format from last edition with the top three teams per group advancing to the quarterfinals and the remaining teams relegated to play-in games.
All basketball games for this year’s edition will air live and free on Cignal platforms via the ONE Sports Youtube Channel and the CignalPlay app. Select games will also air on Mondays and Thursdays on the RPTV Channel. A dedicated channel to NCAA Content will also be launched in NCAA NXT channel 264 HD on Cignal prior to the opening.

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San Beda Red Lions NCAA Yuri Escueta
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