MANILA, Philippines - Matapos walisin ang kanilang serye ng La Salle-Greenhills para sa ika-21 championship sa 89th NCAA junior basketball tournament noong Huwebes, ang susunod na magiging hamon naman para sa Red Cubs ay ang pagkawala ng ilan nilang pangunahing manlalaro sa susunod na season.
“We’re losing 10 seniors to graduation this school year and will be left with just one starter next season,†wika ni San Beda coach JB Sison, pumalit kay Brit Reroma.
Sa kanyang mga starters, tanging si Joshua Andrei Caracut ang mananatili, habang mawawala naman sina National youth team mainstays Arvin Tolentino, Ranbill Tongco at Rev Deputado pati na si 2012 Finals MVP Jayvee Mocon at anim pang players.
Natapos na rin ang playing years sa high school nina Niko Abatayo, Lancelot Abude at Franz Abuda.
Ang nasabing grupo ang naggiya sa San Beda sa huling dalawa sa kanilang five-peat at ang bihirang sweep na huling nagawa ng San Sebastian squad na binanderahan nina Ryan Buenafe at Arvie Bri-ngas limang seasons na ang nakakaraan.
Ang pagkawala ni Tolentino, ang reigning Finals MVP, ay isa nang mala-king hamon para kay Sison at sa Red Cubs.
“It will be hard to replace these players because they’re really integral parts of our championship run,†sabi ni Sison. “But this is high school basketball, players come and go and you always rebuild somewhere.â€
“I guess we just have to make do with what we have and start from scratch,†dagdag pa nito.
Umaasa si Sison na ang lahat ng kanyang graduating players ay makakasama sa senior basketball team ni coach Boyet Fernandez. “I wish all of them decide to play college ball for their alma mater, I really hope they do,†wika ni Sison.