Red Lions roar mightily under Fernandez

Ola Adeogun

San Beda had the explosive roster to rule the NCAA, but it also needed the presence of a multititled coach to put all the pieces together and sustain the Red Lions’ dominance.

Coach Boyet Fernandez has been quick to deflect credit to the Lions’ success in the country’s oldest collegiate league, though.

“It’s always about the players and the support of the management,” he would say in postgame interviews.

San Beda’s Nigerian slotman Ola Adeogun, however, thinks Fernandez was just as important as everyone else in the team in the last two championship drives that led to a rare “five-peat” and an eighth title in nine years.

“The leadership and the confidence he gives us as players was very important,” said the 6-foot-8 Adeogun. “The way way he encourages us gives us more reason to play better for our team.”

Upon the prodding of the Lions’ chief backer, Manny V. Pangilinan, Fernandez took over the San Beda job after the surprise resignation of Ronnie Magsanoc more than two years ago.

Inheriting a talent-laden squad, Fernandez kept the Lions’ title streak going with his own structured style of play which has seen him win a title in the PBA with Sta. Lucia in 2007.

Adeogun noted how Fernandez kept the team together even after a three-game losing spell imperiled their bid to clinch the No. 1 seeding for the ninth straight season.

“We were too relaxed and too complacent,” said Adeogun. “But coach was always there to remind us to stick with the system and he believed in us.”

The Lions came out more ferocious after the three-game slide, routing Arellano to take the No. 1 seed in a playoff.

“That was the game that changed everything (this season),” Adeogun said, referring to the Oct. 10 playoff with the Chiefs. “After that we were more focused and more confident.”