Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda has been a basketball power even before World War II ravaged the Philippines with the Red Lions winning the title 22 times, the most in NCAA history.
Yet for all the hoops glory, the Red Lions were mere pawns in the general championship race—until now.
San Beda on Thursday officially scored its second straight general title after being crowned as the top-performing school at the closing ceremonies of the NCAA Season 92 at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Lions are now five-time winners of the general title, the third-most in NCAA history behind Mapua (21) and Colegio de San Juan de Letran (9).
“We’re very happy, it’s a proud accomplishment for the whole San Beda community,” said Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson of host San Beda.
“We invested in other sports not just the events we’re strong at. We hope to keep on improving year after year. We also put emphasis in indoor and beach volleyball,”
San Beda had 683 points after championships in basketball, chess, men’s taekwondo, table tennis, swimming, and football.
What’s impressive about San Beda’s haul is it spanned just seven years after the Red Lions won its first three from 2011 to 2013.
College of St. Benilde was able to break the streak with two general championships in a row but San Beda was able to turn the tide to its favor in 2016.
The Red Cubs were also the best high-schoolers in the NCAA after they won their fourth straight general title.