By: Joaquin Cortez
Rodney Santos returned to San Sebastian College-Recoletos hoping to revive the winning tradition he once helped build as a player. Instead, his first season back at the helm ended in heartbreak, as the Golden Stags endured a historic winless campaign in NCAA Season 102.
San Sebastian finished the season with a 0-13 record, becoming the first team to go winless in an NCAA seniors’ basketball campaign since the then under-probation Philippine Christian University Dolphins went 0-12 in both the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
The Stags also set an unwanted league record for a regular member with their 18th consecutive defeat, dating back to last season.
Their final loss came on Thursday, when they bowed to the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 79-73, in the play-in round at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, officially bringing their winless campaign to a close.
It was a difficult homecoming for Santos, who once helped bring glory to the school as a member of its championship-winning teams from 1991 to 1995.
A three-time NCAA champion and the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1994, the former PBA player returned to a program in turmoil, taking over after San Sebastian abruptly released head coach Tony Tan without the latter’s knowledge while he was in Canada recovering from an illness.
Santos found himself on the other side of the program’s history, leading a team that struggled to find its footing throughout the season.
But even as the losses piled up, Santos’ connection to his alma mater and commitment to its players never wavered.
“I love my school. No’ng nagkakagulo, hindi ko puwedeng iwanan ‘yung mga bata kasi mag-NCAA na. Alma mater ko ‘to. Whatever happens, may salary o wala, stay tayo. Kung anong mangyari, tayo ‘to, atin ‘to. Malasakit ‘to sa school,” Santos said.
The Stags’ struggles, however, went beyond the basketball court. San Sebastian entered the season amid delayed salaries and allowances, as well as numerous coaching changes. Santos acknowledged that the program had lost much of the identity and culture that once defined it.
“When I assumed the position around the middle of the FilOil, walang identity ‘yung team. Culture nawala,” he said. “Hindi natin masisisi ‘yung players kung bakit at kung anong pinakita nila. It’s not their fault.
“Sana magkaroon ng stability ‘yung program.”
The Stags legend also lamented how far the program had fallen from the sustained success he experienced during his playing days, when a relatively intact core allowed the team to establish a strong foundation and consistently compete for championships.
“Nakakamiss ‘yung winning tradition. Three to four years, sana isang championship lang. Katulad ng ibang schools ngayon, second year, third year, hanggang sa makita na ang progress, sana ma-sustain natin,” Santos said.
“’Yung core namin noon, walang grumagraduate. We stayed solid. Naging matibay ang pundasyon. Ngayon, marupok ‘yung pundasyon, sa totoo lang.”
Despite the program’s difficult season, Santos urged his players to keep fighting until the very end, stressing that learning how to respond to adversity would be crucial as they continue their basketball careers.
For Santos, being part of a team that endured such a difficult campaign was a far cry from the championship glory he once helped bring to San Sebastian. Still, he refused to let the record define either the players or his commitment to his alma mater.
“I’m one of the players na nagbigay ng glory sa San Sebastian and I’m proud of it. Ngayon, I’m part of a record na walang panalo, pero it’s fine. Gano’n talaga, wala naman akong ikahihiya,” he said.
“Hopefully, we stay for another year. Whatever happens this season, mapa-winless man or isa, it doesn’t define my players as a person.”
