If there’s one man who has experienced the growing pains of being a student-athlete and a national team player at the same time, it is current San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez.
Back in 1991, Fernandez — then just 20 years old — was enlisted to be part of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games squad. Just a student in Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, he was tasked to play back-up to the legendary Johnny Abarrientos. The sacrifices he made, travelling back and forth from Bacolod to Manila, bore fruit as the squad won SEA Games gold in dominant fashion.
This generation has their own group of student-athletes trying to make the country proud.
The 23 for 2023 Gilas Cadets, a squad composed of the brightest stars in both the high school and collegiate ranks, were tasked to join the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, presented by Chooks-to-Go. However, the young squad has yet to enter the win column, falling in their three games so far — including a 91-70 rout at the hands of Fernandez’s Red Lions.
Seeing the Cadets first hand brought back memories for the winningest head coach in D-League history.
“Well, siyempre playing for flag and country is different. So siyempre proud ako na naging national team ako before. And it shows sa players ng Gilas ngayon.
“Even though they have classes — like in our case Javee Mocon, they go to class and practice with Gilas as well. So sinasakripisyo nila ang lahat for flag and country,” expressed Fernandez.
Moreover, with a highly-touted staff headed by coach Chot Reyes, Fernandez believes that this experience will only help the Cadets in the long run.
“Knowing that team right now, they are still young. Knowing their coaches, coach Chot and the rest of the coaching staff, that team will be strong in the years to come,” he pointed out.
“It might not be seen right now but darating din yan.”
