Call it undermanned, crippled or mini team but this San Beda Red Lion team still fought with all their heart even though they only have 6 players suited up for the ball game or what the San Beda faithfuls love to call them the “Super 6”.
They are Jun Bonsubre, Art Dela Cruz, Francis Abarcar, Ritchie Villaruz, Dave Moralde, and Yvan Ludovice. Comprised of three rookies (two former Red Cubs and one La Salle Greenie), two transferees from the UAAP, and one veteran who was kept on Team B last season. These 6 players aka The Super 6 have to stepped up into the ball game and battle the complete and veteran line up of Arellano University Chiefs as eight of the main players of the Red Lions were suspended for 1 game – Rome Dela Rosa, Melo Lim, Kyle Pascual, Baser Amer, Michole Sorela, Anjo Caram, Jaypee Mendoza, Ryusei Koga, Jake Pascual and their Nigerian import have to serve 4-game suspension which was lessen from original 1-year suspension to 6-game suspension and now 4-game suspension.
The odds are obviously against the San Beda Red Lion’s Super 6 as they have to battle the complete line up of Arellano University Chiefs and obviously, these 6 players are very young and inexperienced players because they are all considered as rookies for this NCAA season 88 but they took it as a challenge, a very hard challenge plus, the line up were also trimmed to 5 players as Jun Bonsubre fouled out during the 7 minute mark of the 4th quarter.
No TV coverage for this game and I wasn’t able to watch the game live at San Juan Arena but as a San Beda hopeful and graduate, I see to it that I am updated with the score, thanks for the help of the social media. I even posted a status in my Facebook page that I will treat everyone for a drink if San Beda wins this game and now, I am in big trouble as my former batchmates in San Beda are texting me and asking when am I going to treat them but nonetheless, fan or hater of San Beda, this is a very historic win for them. They beat the Arellano Chiefs with a score of 81-71 and whatever league to belong or cheer, this is really an unbelievable feat. Wherever you put it, whether in Inter-Barangay League, HS Basketball, NCAA, UAAP, PBA or even the NBA, this is indeed an unbelievable victory by the Super 6. One suspended Red Lion even tweeted that this game should be in front of every sports page newspaper out there and heck, even deserved a spot on ESPN.
Eight out of 9 suspended players will be back on July 2 as they battle the Lyceum squad so imagine what this team can do if they have a complete line-up?
Let us not put all the credit to Super 6 but newly installed San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc and his coaching team really did a great job. “It’s all about the heart of my players,” said San Beda Red Lions head coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
Check out some images below from the first game of San Beda Red Lions vs. Arellano University Chiefs:
Box Score:
SBC 81 – Ludovice 18, Dela Cruz 18, Villacruz 17, Abarcar 16, Moralde 12, Bonsubre 0.
AU 71 – Acidre 16, Pinto 16, Hernandez 15, Malanday 14, Salcedo 4, Bangga 4, Zulueta 2, Cadavis 0, Lunas 0, Valera 0, Espiras 0.
Quarter scoring: 21-28, 42-44, 63-54, 81-71
MIKEZanity 