Head coach: Boyet Fernandez
Last season: 14-4 (1st, champions)
Holdovers: Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Davon Potts, Donald Tankoua, Arnaud Noah
Key losses: Dan Sara
Key additions: Kemark Cariño, Clint Doliguez
It’s championship or bust for the NCAA’s most successful basketball program.
With 21 seniors’ basketball titles to its name, and the Red Lions plan to take banner 22 in Season 93.
“I hope we can take the NCAA title, that’s the very important or the no.1 objective when I came in,” said head coach Boyet Fernandez. “We have to win back-to-back for San Beda.”
Fernandez, who has coached San Beda before, is no stranger to winning.
San Beda was in the middle of its reign in the NCAA when Fernandez led the Red Lions to two straight titles in 2013 and 2014.
The Red Lions won five straight titles from 2011 to 2015, marking just the second time in history that a school completed a five-peat. The first time was in the 1990s when San Sebastian ruled the NCAA.
Fernandez left the team for a brief period to coach the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, but when his former home came calling he did not hesitate to go back and lead the Red Lions to another, potential, championship.
“Bottomline, we’re looking forward to the NCAA, and hopefully the NCAA trophy stays in San Beda, in Mendiola,” said Fernandez.