For the first time since Colegio de San Juan de Letran joined the NCAA back in 1928, a product of San Beda University is set to coach the Knights.
Rensy Bajar, a graduate of San Beda High School in 1994 and San Beda College in 1997, was formally named as the successor to Bonnie Tan on Monday inside the school’s Intramuros campus.
And Bajar hopes that the San Beda community understands his decision to join the “enemy.”
“Actually, hindi na bago kasi simula nung mga 2019, nakalaban namin na sila sa championship,” said Bajar, who was part of Tan’s staff since NCAA Season 95. “Kumbaga parang eto it’s a good challenge na makapag-coach din ako sa Letran, plus siyempre, tinanggap din ako ng Letran community.
“Siyempre dun sa Beda, tumagilid lang ako. Kumbaga trabaho lang naman nothing personal, but at the end of the day siyempre, still, basketball pa rin, so ‘yun lang naman.”
Bajar though knows that he has tough shoes to fill.
During his three-season run as Knights head coach, Tan guided Letran to unprecedented heights.
He led the school to three straight NCAA championships — including a sweep of NCAA Season 97. In addition, he gave the school numerous blue chip UAAP prospects.
Bajar shared that it will be hard to replicate Tan’s feat. But he will give his all to continue his legacy.
“Hindi siya mapapalitan eh, kumbaga parang humalili lang para lang sa kanya dito sa Season 99 tsaka Season 100 sa Letran,” he said. “So kumbaga ‘yung na-feel ko ngayon is andun ‘yung halong saya at kaba.
“Dahil unang-una hindi biro ‘yung pinagdaanan namin ‘tong 2019 up to ‘yung last year natin na season eh, so kumbaga it’s a big shoe to fill, and unang-una it’s really coach Bonnie na isa legendary coach na dito sa NCAA. So sabi ko nga kanina, mahirap, but posibleng mangyari, so kumbaga dahil ‘yun lang, tulong lang namin — tutulong-tulong lang kami dito kasi tsaka at the same time mga coaching staff nandito pa rin naman.”
Also helping out Bajar is a new booster in Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla.
“In behalf of Mayor Strike Revilla, ang binilin lang sa akin ni Mayor para sa name natin sa Letran ay 1001-percent po na nakapatag po siya sa atin, pasesnya na po at nasa US siya,” said Bacoor Strikers team manager Dennis Abella, who was speaking on behalf of Mayor Revilla.
“Pero ‘yung puso niya po ay talagang nandito po sa Letran. Maraming salamat po at talagang pagbubutihan namin po ang supporta dito po sa Letran.”
