Hear The Roar Of The Mighty Red Lion

Looking at how the San Beda Red Lions fared in the 2012 Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup, it can be said that they have done a fairly good job of keeping their attention away from the various off-court challenges and controversies that have hounded them in the past few months.

Conceding a tight 50-46 decision against the De La Salle Green Archers last Saturday in their semifinals match, the Red Lions fell just a game short of barging into the finals. Nevertheless, a stint in the semifinals is still impressive considering the major shakeup that the team experienced recently.

The team is still reeling from the loss of their head coach Frankie Lim after the multi-titled tactician got involved in a melee with San Sebastian volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb last December which earned him a 2-year suspension slapped by the NCAA. Adding the multiple suspensions meted several of their players and the ban on two of their foreign recruits Olaide Adeogun of Nigeria and Julius Armon of California, who recently decided to stay in the US, the Red Lions, for the first time in many years are no longer touted as hands-down favorites this 88th NCAA season.

Guidance

But the unfortunate events forced the team towards a new direction that would hopefully bring stability to a now rebuilding team as school officials decided to tap the services of former Red Cub and one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players, Ronnie Magsanoc.

“I was asked to help out the program and it was like going full circle for me. Nagaral ako dun (San Beda) then mag-seserbisyo ako,” said the ex-pro, who was one of the most dependable court generals during his heyday.

“Wala na yung core ng team, sina Gabe Marcelo, Garvo Lanete, the Semerad twins and Mar Villahermosa so this will be a rebuilding year,” said the 46-year-old Magsanoc, the concurrent Meralco Bolts assistant coach in the PBA, who agrees that his team will not be as favored as before.

“It will be a new situation for the team,” said Magsanoc.

Older Red Lions

San Beda die-hards can expect the remaining veterans to take the cudgels and lead the charge towards defending their crown this year. The tandem of 5th-year veterans Anjo Caram and team captain Jake Pascual will lead the pack of Red Lions together with Melo Lim, Kyle Pascual and Rome dela Rosa in their quest for a fourth title in five years and 17th overall.

The Red Lions may not be done licking their wounds but the rest of the league should not count them out this soon because champions that have hearts of lions don’t just go down that easily.

source: Inquirer Libre Digital Edition