MANILA, Philippines - Dismissing talk that he’ll be back in the PBA next season with N-Lex, six-peat PBA D-League champion coach Boyet Fernandez said the other day there’s nothing on his mind at the moment except the mission to win a fifth straight NCAA championship for San Beda College and second under his watch.
Fernandez, 42, said whatever happens after the NCAA season, he leaves up to PLDT chairman and the Red Lions’ chief benefactor Manny V. Pangilinan. “Nobody wants our team to be distracted,” he said. “My focus right now is San Beda, nothing else. We want to complete a five-peat and on a personal note, I’m hoping to win a second straight title for the Lions. It’s not going to be easy. We brought in four rookies and lost Rome de la Rosa. No team in the NCAA is a pushover. We’ve got to be ready for every game.”
Fernandez said at this point in the NCAA tournament, the top contenders are San Beda, Arellano, San Sebastian and Perpetual for the Final Four. But the one-time PBA Coach of the Year with Sta. Lucia Realty isn’t discounting a surge from Letran, St. Benilde, Lyceum, Emilio Aguinaldo, Mapua and Jose Rizal University, all of whom he described as darkhorses.
“Coach Jerry (Codiñera) has transformed Arellano into a serious title threat,” said Fernandez. “It’s a different team from last year without James Forrester. But coach Jerry has done a good job of getting the team to play together. As for San Beda, we’re lucky to bring back our core with Art (de la Cruz), Ola (Adeogun) who has one more year of eligibility after this season, Anthony and David Semerad, Baser Amer, Kyle (Pascual), Jaypee (Mendoza), Dan (Sara) and Ryusei (Koga). We’re returning Michole Sorela who was in our lineup two years ago and is coming from playing with our Team B. Then, we’ve got our rookies Radge Tongco who has gained a lot of confidence after playing with our Philippine U16 team, Javee Mocon, Lance Abude and Jeramer Cabanag.”
Fernandez said the Lions displayed remarkable resiliency in beating Lyceum, 84-68, without De la Cruz who served a one-game suspension stemming from an unsportsmanlike infraction in the previous outing against Mapua. “I think camaraderie is very evident with our team,” he said. “We’ve also got the advantage of experience. We’re on a mission to do a five-peat. That’s our commitment to San Beda and Sir MVP.”
As for N-Lex, Fernandez said moving from the D-League to the PBA is a positive development as the Road Warriors take their winning ways to the next level. “Actually, I still don’t know what pick N-Lex has in the coming rookie draft,” said Fernandez. “It could be either three or four. I know that seven of our D-League players are applying for the draft, namely, Garvo Lanete, Kevin Alas, Kyle Pascual, Ronald Pascual, Jake Pascual, Matt Ganuelas and Rome de la Rosa. I’m not aware if Bobby Ray (Parks) will also join the draft. Maybe, by the time N-Lex picks in the first round, one of our key D-League players will still be available. It all depends on the slot and the players in the pool.”
Sources said Fernandez will be named as N-Lex head coach after the NCAA season with a staff made up of Adonis Tierra, Jojo Lastimosa, Sandy Arespacochaga, Mon Celis and Ford Arao. Allan Gregorio will act as team consultant.
N-Lex took over the Air21 franchise and inherited the unexpired contracts of Eloy Poligrates, MacMac Cardona, Aldrech Ramos, Sean Anthony and Enrico Villanueva. In the dispersal draft last Friday, N-Lex’ protect-13 list excluded Wynne Arboleda, Mike Burtscher, Ogie Menor and Chito Jaime. Kia Motors chose Burtscher as one of its picks. Of those with contracts expiring Aug. 31, sources said N-Lex will prioritize renewing Asi Taulava and Jonas Villanueva. Guard Joseph Yeo will be dealt to Barangay Ginebra in a previously negotiated trade.
“Asi and Aldrech playing together is a good offensive inside-outside combination,” the sources said. “Aldrech could be the future of the franchise. Jonas gives the team stability. We hope to continue the winning tradition of N-Lex started in the D-League.” Arespacochaga moves from Talk ‘N’ Text to complement Fernandez while Lastimosa, a PBA legend, checks in from Alaska where he once served as assistant coach under Tim Cone. Ronald Dulatre will likely be appointed N-Lex representative to the PBA Board of Governors with Rod Franco as alternate.