Staglets dynasty a handiwork of Valenzona

Triumphant San Sebastian coach Raymond Valenzona has been celebrating his birthday with an NCAA juniors’ basketball title the last four years.

Friday was no different as Valenzona steered the Staglets to a fourth straight championship with a two-game sweep of the Letran Squires on the eve of his 34th natal day.

“I’m so blessed that I have been celebrating my birthday in the last four years with a championship, I’m so thankful and happy given this opportunity,” said Valenzona.

Raymond, son of veteran coach Turo Valenzona, deserves all the accolades for all the hard work, effort, dedication and time he has put into the team.

He overcame years of heartbreaks and disappointments in his first three seasons with the Staglets.

The sacrifices paid off as he used those years in laying the foundation for the dynasty that he has now established in the NCAA.

Along the way, his program produced a stellar cast of players now etching their niches in the collegiate ranks, including the Ateneo neophyte Ryan Buenafe, the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year.

There were also Buenafe’s Ateneo teammate Eric Salamat and University of the East’s Paul Lee and Raffy Reyes.

Buenafe and Salamat were vital cogs in the Eagles’ recent title conquest of La Salle while Lee and Reyes were part of the team that completed a historic 14-game sweep of the elimination round last season.

“They’re part of the program and we’re very proud they’re making good in their collegiate careers,” said Valenzona, who also won numerous Palarong Pambansa and national titles in his seven years with the school.

Arvie Bringas is another talent who has played his last game with the team and should now be a hot commodity in the collegiate ranks.

Bringas has Valenzona to thank for.

“Coach gave me the chance. I owe it to him what kind of player I am right now,” said the 18-year-old Bringas.