San Beda University, a powerhouse in Philippine collegiate sports, continues to stand tall as the NCAA’s only remaining founding member.
The league will celebrate its centennial season, which is set to kick off on Saturday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Over its 100 years in the Grand Old League, the Red Lions have amassed a total of 22 general championships (14 in the juniors division and eight in the seniors division). The university also boasts a league-record 235 titles across 15 sports, with 23 of those coming from their seniors’ basketball program.
Atty. Jonas Cabochan, the school’s Management Committee representative, assured the San Beda community that the university will continue its unwavering support for both long-standing and new members in its pursuit of local and national sports excellence.
“As its founding member, it has its duty to [also] support the old members and the new ones to ensure that the NCAA will continue its contribution to national sports,” Cabochan said during the league’s press conference last Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Nakita niyo naman sa NCAA, a lot of national players have been produced by the NCAA. Hopefully, in the next 100 years, San Beda will still be there.”
Despite this assured support, Cabochan and San Beda are eager to see improvements that will help the NCAA thrive for the next century.
This includes their hope for the league to consider reinstating the rule allowing foreign student-athletes, a provision that was removed starting Season 96 in 2020.
Notably, the Red Lions have produced some of the greatest foreign student-athletes the NCAA has seen, such as Sam Ekwe, Sudan Daniel, Donald Tankoua, and Ola Adeogun.
“San Beda, personally, hopes that the NCAA will be global in its approach to developing talents and tournaments,” Cabochan said.
“If you look at international sports or competitions, there are already foreign players. Perhaps the NCAA can revisit this to stay in tune with international tournaments.”
With contemporaries like Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas thriving in the UAAP, will San Beda also consider making the move someday?
For now, Cabochan assured that they will continue to remain a cornerstone of the NCAA.
“It will depend on the development. But that is for the Board of Trustees of San Beda to decide. I am sure that what the policymakers of San Beda want to happen is what is also good for the school,” Cabochan added.
“If it’s good for the school, maybe San Beda will entertain it. San Beda is not applying as of this time, but when the policymakers of the school determine that it is the right time, then we might consider it.”
Only time will tell.
