After the San Beda College Red Lions secured top seed entering the NCAA Seniors Basketball tournament for the 11th straight season, third-year guard AC Soberano, who dropped his career-high Tuesday afternoon, was more reflective than celebratory.
No one would have expected the San Beda Red Lions to be in this position after the obstacles the team had to overcome this season. After losing six of their players to graduation, the cagers from Mendiola suffered a huge setback after Cameroonian student-athlete Donald Tankoua, the anchor of San Beda’s defense, was ruled out of the season due to an ACL injury a month ago.
Entering the press room of the Filoil Flying V Centre for the last time this season, the Tarlac native was simply in awe of how they were able to overcome so much in just three months.
“Nag-focus lang sa game. Pagising ko lang sa umaga, sabi ko gusto ko manalo,” Soberano, who was lost for words, said about helping lead the Red Lions to their decade-long “tradition.”
“Gusto ko talaga manalo para makuha yung number. Every year, number one ang San Beda sa NCAA.”
For the 20-year-old sharp-shooter, it feels surreal that step one of a three-step mission is finally done.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala din na nalampasan namin yung mga struggle na dumating sa amin, nawala yung big man namin, tapos yung first five namin dati wala na,” he reflected after dropping 26 points, including six triples, against their rivals this season Arellano.
“Pero nandito pa rin kami ngayon.”
“It’s all about team work and hard work kaya ayun ang nangyari,” the NCAA’s three-point king closed.
Step two of San Beda’s journey will begin on Friday, September 30, as the Red Lions take on the Perpetual Altas at 2:00pm. SBC will hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the series.
