After the San Beda College Red Lions ousted San Sebastian on Tuesday night, head coach Boyet Fernandez and team captain Robert Bolick could not help but look back on the tough challenges the Golden Stags have given them all throughout the season. And the squabbles between both teams even spilled off the court just two months ago.
Last September 15, Fernandez and San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya figured in a spat that revolved around Michael Calisaan. Fernandez accused Calisaan of being a dirty player while Macaraya protected his ward.
Fernandez was apologetic. Still, he feels that he did the right thing by pointing it out to the league.
“Well, actually, I said what I’ve said before, and kung nasaktan man ang San Sebastian, I think if you look at the end result of that, you look at Calisaan, he played as a normal player after that, and he’s been playing well,” shared Fernandez after San Beda’s 76-71 win, “Probably, they showed the tapes and everything, but we have also our tapes. But I do respect what they’re saying, and if that’s the way they appreciate what Calisaan is doing, then that’s their system, that’s their program, and I do respect that.”
Bolick, still fired up from his 21-point outing, shared that he has always admired the physical style of play that has been synonymous with the San Sebastian basketball program. The 21-year-old recalled that six years ago, he was able to watch Calvin Abueva and the Stags in Ormoc and he was fascinated with the way they played.
“Si Abueva, yung mga yun. Naglaro kasi sila dati sa Ormoc ng PCCL, naka-tsinelas ako, nanonood ako,” recalled Bolick, “Ganoon na talaga sila maglaro, which, sobrang nakaka-inspire kalaban yung mga ganoon, kasi binibigay nila lahat eh. Hindi naman porke’t alam nila na, for example, matatalo na kami — tingnan mo kanina, three seconds na lang, gusto pa nila manalo, gusto pa nila.
“That’s the beauty of San Sebastian.”
Comparing this batch to that legendary squad, Bolick sees the same fire in them. Moreover, they are as physical, as their semifinals game saw 26 fouls slapped against the Stags, a handful of the unsportsmanlike type.
“Look at Abueva now, tingnan mo naman, lahat ng mga players ng San Sebastian. That’s how they play, and I love how they play,” he said. “Sino hindi mamo-motivate na ganoon ang kabalan mo? Kasi pag pumunta ka sa probinsya, ganoon naman ang laro eh. Kahit two pesos ang labanan diyan, kahit anong mangyari, panalo kung panalo eh.
“Sinabi ko na nga sa team, San Sebastian really plays hard. Hindi naman nila intention manakit. They just want it more,” Bolick pointed out.
“We have to appreciate. Ang dami naming natutunan ngayon, which is, kahit ganoon ang mangyari, stay focused ka pa rin.”
If they continue on this track Macaraya has built, Fernandez believes that San Sebastian will be a contender come next season.
“It will be a team to reckon with in the next years to come with coach Egay there.”
