The San Beda Red Lions basketball program represents San Beda University (SBU) in men's basketball as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). The San Beda Red Lions are the only remaining founding team in the NCAA.
History Then known as San Beda College (SBC), the Mendiola-based school co-founded the NCAA in 1924, winning its first seniors' basketball title in 1927, then three straight titles from 1934 to 1936. Their three-year title run during the 1930s was led by Charles Borck.
Zamora Cup and 1970s back-to-back titles The Zamora Cup was awarded to the first NCAA team that wins three titles after World War II. San Beda led by Carlos Loyzaga emerged as the frontrunner in 1952, winning two titles by then. The Ateneo Blue Eagles then won the next two titles. In 1955, San Beda and Ateneo made it to the Finals, in which the Red Lions won and kept permanent possession of the trophy. San Beda finished the 1950s with another title in 1959, this time led by Alberto Reynoso.
San Beda would not a win title again until 1977. Coached by Loreto Carbonell and led by Frankie Lim and Chito Loyzaga (Carlos's son), the Red Lions defeated Ateneo, with the deciding game being played behind closed doors due to rampant hooliganism at that time. The Red Lions defended their title in 1978, defeating the De La Salle Green Archers. San Beda withdrew from the NCAA in 1984 to focus on intramural events;
Return to the NCAA San Beda returned in 1986 The Red Lions made it to the Finals in 1991, only to be thwarted by Benny Cheng's game winner for the Mapua Cardinals. They made another Finals appearance in 1996, this time against the undefeated four-time defending champions San Sebastian Stags but lost. The Red Lions again made it to the Finals in 1997 but were again defeated by the Stags. During this back-to-back Finals appearance, they were coached by Dong Vergeire.
San Beda won't make it to the playoffs again until 2004. On that season, they took the Perpetual Altas to two games in the semifinals before they were eliminated. Nash Racela, who was coaching the Red Lions at this time, was sacked at the middle of the next season and was replaced by Koy Banal.
Dynasty In the 21st century, the Red Lions have qualified to 14 consecutive Finals, from 2006 to 2019. This was after a successful "End 28 at 82" run where they defeated the PCU Dolphins to end their 28-year title drought during the NCAA Season 82. The iconic team coached by Koy Banal the Red Lions were led by Yousif Aljamal, Ogie Menor and Nigerian import Samuel Ekwe. The next year, they matched the 1977–78 team by winning back-to-back titles defeating the Letran Knights. The Red Lions made it three consecutive titles in 2008, beating the JRU Heavy Bombers.
The Red Lions were now gunning for a fourth consecutive title, but were stopped by San Sebastian in 2009. The Red Lions won the next two Finals match-ups against the Stags. In the basketball offseason, the Red Lions men's basketball team were involved in a brawl with the San Sebastian women's volleyball team; this led to the NCAA suspending Lim for two years. Lim left the Red Lions and was replaced by Ronnie Magsanoc. With players like Garvo Lanete, Borgie Hermida and American import Sudan Daniel, Magsanoc coached the team to a convincing Finals decider against Letran. Boyet Fernandez replaced Magsanoc in the next season, and won two more titles, in 2013 with a rematch against Letran, and in 2014 against the Arellano Chiefs. This five-year title run matched San Sebastian's domination from 1993 to 1997.
Seeking an unprecedented sixth straight championship in 2015, the Red Lions, now coached by Jamike Jarin, faced Letran anew in the Finals, the Knights won, and stopped San Beda's title run at five. The team would return in the Finals in 2016, against the Chiefs; bannered by Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon and Finals MVP Arnaud Noah of Cameroon, Jarin clinched his first NCAA title against Arellano. Fernandez returned in 2017, and won two consecutive titles against the Lyceum Pirates, being reinforced by the Cameroonian Donald Tankoua.
In their 21st Finals appearance, the 2020 Red Lions faced the last team that defeated them in the Finals in Letran. The Knights won in the Finals in three games. Due to the COVID pandemic, the NCAA did not hold the basketball events in the 2020 season, and played the 2021 tournament in early 2022. San Beda were upended by the Mapua Cardinals in the elimination round and entered the playoffs without the twice-to-beat advantage. The Cardinals eliminated the San Beda, snapping their Finals streak at 14 years. Management decided not to renew Fernandez's contract, and hired Yuri Escueta to replace him. Escueta coached the Red Lions to another Final Four appearance, but failed to progress to the Finals, losing out to the Benilde Blazers. On his second campaign, Escueta led the Red Lions to a third seed finish after the eliminations, then upset the Lyceum Pirates in the semifinals. San Beda won the title in three games, defeating the #1 seed Mapua Cardinals. In 2024, the San Beda Red Lions lost in the semifinals to the Benilde Blazers. The following year, the Red Lions defeated the Benilde Blazers in the semifinals then swept their rivals, the Letran Knights in the finals to win the NCAA Season 101 Championship.
Current roster NCAA Season 102
Head coaches 1950–1954: Felicisimo Fajardo 1955–c. 1959: Arturo Rius c. 1977–c. 1978: Loreto Carbonell 1988: Conrado Castañada 1989–1991: Orlando Castelo 1991–1992: Boy Ascue 1993–1994: Rogelio Melencio 1995–1999: Dong Vergeire 2000: Ato Badolato 2001: Rene Baena 2002–2003: Jonathan Reyes 2004–2005: Nash Racela 2005–2006: Koy Banal 2007–2011: Frankie Lim 2012: Ronnie Magsanoc 2013–2014: Boyet Fernandez 2015–2016: Jamike Jarin 2017–2022: Boyet Fernandez 2022–present: Yuri Escueta
Retired numbers
#14, Carlos Loyzaga (2016)
Season-by-season records SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPCTGBGPWLResults1999NCAA5th/81468.4293Did not qualify20006th/81459.3576Did not qualify20018th/814212.1439Did not qualify20027th/814212.1439Did not qualify20036th/81468.4293Did not qualify20044th/81477.5003321Lost semifinals vs Perpetual20057th/814410.2869Did not qualify2006NCAA1st/814131.929—431Won Finals vs PCU20071st/712111.917—330Won Finals vs Letran20081st/814113.786—532Won Finals vs JRU2009NCAA1st/1018162.889—422Lost Finals vs San Sebastian2010NCAA1st/9161601.000—220Won Finals vs San Sebastian20111st/1018162.889—440Won Finals vs San Sebastian20121st/1018153.833—431Won Finals vs Letran20131st/1018153.833—431Won Finals vs Letran20141st/1018135.722—440Won Finals vs Arellano2015NCAA1st/1018135.722—532Lost Finals vs Letran2016NCAA1st/1018144.778—541Won Finals vs Arellano20172nd/1018162.8892330Won Finals vs Lyceum20181st/1018171.944—330Won Finals vs Lyceum2019NCAA1st/10181801.000—312Lost Finals vs Letran2020NCAASeason canceled20213rd/10972.7782321Lost semifinals vs Mapua20224th/1018126.6672101Lost semifinals vs Benilde 2023NCAA3rd/1018126.6673541Won Finals vs Mapua2024NCAA3rd/1018108.5565101Lost semifinals vs Benilde2025NCAA1st/51394.692—651Won Finals vs Letran
Honors
Team honors
Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Champions (2): 2014, 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champions (24): 1927, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1959, 1977, 1978, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2025
Player honors
NCAA Most Valuable Player Charles Borck (1): 1936 Arturo Rius (1) 1940 Carlos Loyzaga (2): 1951, 1952 Alberto Reynoso (1): 1959 Antonio Valeriano (1): 1991 Sam Ekwe (2): 2006, 2008 Sudan Daniel (1): 2010 Calvin Oftana (1): 2019 NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player Yousif Aljamal (1): 2006 Ogie Menor (1): 2007 Sam Ekwe (1): 2008 Sudan Daniel (1): 2010 Dave Marcelo (1): 2011 Baser Amer (1): 2012 Art dela Cruz (1): 2013 Anthony Semerad (1): 2014 Arnauld Noah (1): 2016 Donald Tankoua (1): 2017 Javee Mocon (1): 2018 James Payosing (1): 2023 Bryan Sajonia (1): 2025 NCAA Rookie of the Year Ronnie Bughao: 2003 Sam Ekwe: 2006 Dave Marcelo: 2007 Sudan Daniel: 2009 NCAA Defensive Player of the Year Sam Ekwe (1): 2006 Sudan Daniel (2): 2009, 2010 NCAA Most Improved Player Jake Pascual (1): 2009 Donald Tankoua (1): 2016 NCAA Best Foreign Player Donald Tankoua (1): 2019
See also FilBasket
References
Further reading
"A Time to Roar: Ending 28 at 82: Reviving the Bedan Animo" by Jude P. Roque