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NCAA Season 99 Men's Basketball Finals Game 3

The Mapua University and San Beda University battle in the NCAA Season 99 Men's Basketball Finals game 3 in Quezon City on December 17, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1714481681210IMG_3664.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The San Beda Red Lions in the 2024 PBA D-League. Photo from PBA Images."/>The San Beda Red Lions in the 2024 PBA D-League. Photo from PBA Images.</div>MANILA — Reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion San Beda University is starting to ramp up its preparations for the league’s centennial season.The Red Lions, who are currently competing in the 2024 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, are looking to book their slot into the tournament’s Finals round.The Mendiola-based team is a win away from doing so as they defeated Centro Escolar University earlier today, and leading them in scoring was a familiar name in Yuki Andrada who fired 14 points in the victory.However, it was up-and-coming big man Jomel Puno and incoming rookie Richie Calimag who stepped up in the fourth period and led the Red Lions in fending off the Scorpions.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/30/san-beda-staves-off-ceu-scare-forces-semis-decider-1822">READ: Puno, Calimag take charge as San Beda staves off CEU scare, forces semis decider</a></div>San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta hailing the duo, saying that these contributions from Puno and Calimag will be of great help to them in the long run.<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171448172194920231217-ncaa99-mapua-sanbeda-2MD_7216-MD.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta during the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball Finals last December. File photo/Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News."/>San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta during the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball Finals last December. File photo/Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.</div>&quot;Very big for us, especially with the departure of our veterans from last season,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News after the game at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.&quot;It&#x27;s good to see guys stepping up like Richie, Jomel, even sila RC Calimag and AJ Royo. Malaking addition for us yun, so hopefully, they stay consistent,&quot; he continued.The NCAA champs are dealing with the departure of some key players, including star point guard Jacob Cortez who left for De La Salle University. For Escueta, their title defense will be challenging, to say the least.<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/12/24/jacob-cortez-transfers-to-la-salle">READ: </a><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/12/24/jacob-cortez-transfers-to-la-salle">Jacob Cortez transfers to La Salle</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"> </div>&quot;Para akong nag umpisa ng bagong team ulit. Lagpas kalahati ng team ko bago eh. Yung team namin, dalawang buwan pa lang to eh,&quot; the TNT Trorpang Giga assistant coach said of this team, who are welcoming the likes of RC and Richie Calimag, Bryan Sajonia, and Penny Estacio to their team.&quot;Pero San Beda pa rin &#x27;to. Alam namin that it comes with the territory of we have to win. But again, baby steps ang kailangan namin,&quot; he explained. There is some good news for San Beda, with big man Bismarck Lina on his way to recovery after having suffered a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.&quot;Injured pa si Bismarck, pero good news kasi tumatalon tiyaka tumatakbo na siya. We don&#x27;t want to rush him. Pag okay siya, gagamitin namin siya. Pag hindi, [&#x27;di muna],&quot; Escueta said.&quot;Importante yung health ng bata. Sakto siya, sa opening ng NCAA, but sabi ko nga hindi ko siya mamadaliin. Ang importante maging healthy muna siya.&quot;Moving forward, what&#x27;s important for San Beda is to figure things out and remain patient as they continue with their buildup for the NCAA&#x27;s 100th season.&quot;Pwede naman naming gawin yun,&quot; said Escueta, pointing out how they could opt to play in a star-centric system just to be successful in the preseason tournaments.&quot;&#x27;Bigay natin kay Bryan Sajonia yung bola,&#x27; but it wouldn&#x27;t do us good in the long run. One step at a time kami ngayon, ayoko naman na mag veer away sa sistema namin.&quot;&quot;As much as possible, sinusubukan namin na to be more systematic para sa team na &#x27;to,&quot; he ended.Aside from the PBA D-League, the Escueta and the Red Lion are also expected to participate in the 2024 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup in mid May.

Reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion San Beda University is starting to ramp up its preparations for the league’s centennial season.

Reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion San Beda University is starting to ramp up its preparations for the league’s centennial season.

'Bagong team ulit': San Beda gears up for title defense in Season 100

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'Bagong team ulit': San Beda gears up for title defense in Season 100

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 30, 2024 09:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

PBA

2024 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup

San Beda Red Lions

NCAA

NCAA Season 100

NCAA Basketball

San Beda

Yuri Escueta

Jacob Cortez

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