SBC can’t take Arelllano lightly

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda College coach Boyet Fernandez can’t afford to take Arellano University lightly and is treating Game 2 of the best-of-three NCAA senior men’s basketball Finals with guarded optimism despite a huge advantage in experience at the Mall of Asia Arena this afternoon.

A win by the Red Lions will clinch a fifth straight title to extend their stranglehold on the throne and Fernandez’s second in a row since taking over from Ronnie Magsanoc. What makes this chase more meaningful than others is Fernandez’s expected exit from Mendiola after the season to call the shots for N-Lex in the PBA. Nothing is final on his replacement although it is widely speculated that Batang Gilas coach Jamike Jarin, who studied at San Beda, will move in. At the moment, Fernandez would rather focus on the race than his successor.

For Arellano, it’s the Chiefs’ first-ever Finals show since joining the NCAA in 2009 as a guest team. They dominated the NCRAA from 2005 to 2009, winning back-to-back championships, and now, Arellano is in a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the NCAA Finals. The Chiefs must win Game 2 to force a rubber match for the trophy.

It was in 1983 when the Arellano varsity, then known as the Flaming Arrows, barged into the basketball spotlight by stunning La Salle, 69-68, in overtime to clinch the national intercollegiate crown at the University of Nueva Caceres Sports Palace in Naga City. Arellano was then coached by Cholo Martin and La Salle by Pilo Pumaren. Arellano’s stalwarts were Joey Loyzaga, Jay Ramirez, Artemio Gancayco, Ricky Cui and Juanito Guzman while the Archers were led by Franz and Derick Pumaren, Joseph Uichico, Tonichi Yturri, Alfie Almario, Teddy Alfarero, Richard Mendoza and Naning Valenciano. In 2006, the Arellano varsity was renamed the Chiefs in honor of the country’s first Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano.

Fernandez, 43, and Codinera, 47, are no strangers to each other. In 2010, Fernandez took over the UP helm after two games in the UAAP season and one of the holdover assistant coaches was Codinera. They worked together until the end of the campaign which the Fighting Maroons wound up with a 0-14 record, 0-12 under Fernandez. Curiously, they missed playing with each other by a conference in the PBA in 1999. Codinera was traded to Mobiline by Purefoods in the Commissioner’s Cup while Fernandez joined the Tender Juicy Hotdogs in the Governors Cup in a deal with Pop Cola that same year.

“Coach Boyet and I briefly worked together with the UP Maroons,” confirmed Codinera. “He’s very thorough and he has far more coaching experience than I have. I’m very honored by this challenge.” Fernandez was once Coach of the Year in the PBA, led Sta. Lucia Realty to the title and has won six PBA D-League crowns with N-Lex. Codinera never made waves when he coached the Teletech Titans in the PBL and was a bust as UE coach with a 3-11 record in 2011.  But as a PBA player, Codinera clearly outshone Fernandez. Codinera played in the PBA from 1988 to 2005 with Purefoods, Mobiline and FedEx. Fernandez suited up from 1993 to 2003 and played on the Philippine squad that took the 1991 Southeast Asian Games gold medal.

Fernandez said Codinera’s arrival was a big boost for Arellano. “I wasn’t surprised that Arellano made it to the Finals,” he said. “When coach Jerry took over Arellano, I knew it would be a team to reckon with this season. They have an intact lineup plus they have a very good and versatile import in (Dioncee) Holts.”

Codinera said the key matchup in the series is Holts against San Beda’s hulking 6-9 Nigerian Ola Adeogun. Holts, 22, is 6-6 and came in from Banning High School in Wilmington, California. But beyond Holts, the Chiefs are counting on PBA draft picks Prince Caperal and Nard Pinto, point guard Jiovani Jalalon, Ice Ciriacruz and Kevin Agovida. 

For San Beda, Fernandez has surrounded Adeogun with an array of weapons, including PBA draftees Anthony and David Semerad and Kyle Pascual, point guard Baser Amer, wingman Art de la Cruz and Radge Tongco. Which team has a deeper bench is subject to wild debate. In Game 1 last Monday, Adeogun outscored Holts, 14-11 as the Red Lions won, 74-66.

In three head-to-head meetings before the Finals, San Beda beat Arellano twice, 90-81 and 97-69. The Chiefs won once, 78-76. Both teams finished the elims with identical 13-5 marks but the Lions took the No. 1 slot after crushing the Chiefs, 97-69, in a playoff last Oct. 10. 

While Codinera was known as the Minister of Defense in the PBA, the Chiefs are more touted for their firepower. In 13 wins in the double-round eliminations, they averaged 83.4 points and gave up 76.5. In five losses, Arellano surrendered an average of 99.4, including over 100 points to Perpetual Help, St. Benilde and Lyceum. The Chiefs’ inexperience was evident in their defensive lapses.

San Beda’s defense has been unforgiving all season long, yielding only 63.5 points in 13 wins and 75.0 in five losses during the eliminations. The Lions were merciless in holding Letran to 44 points, St. Benilde to 54 and Emilio Aguinaldo to 55. San Beda hasn’t lost twice to the same team and Fernandez wants to keep it that way in the Finals.

Fernandez singled out three factors that will decide the championship. “First, defense will be crucial,” he said. “Second, execution and third, who wants it more, the desire to win it all. If ever we win the championship, I will dedicate this one to Boss MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) for his trust and support to me and the San Beda program, also for all the Bedan Fathers, alumni and students. As per discussion with Boss MVP, we still don’t know if this will be my last season with San Beda or not. Our focus is just on the Finals, nothing else. We can talk about the future after the Finals.”

Codinera said what turned things around for Arellano was faith. “Other than intense training and practice, we were able to win each other’s trust and respect, enough to work together and develop tactics to quickly adjust to likely scenarios come game time,” he said. As for San Beda’s strengths, Codinera cited size, winning tradition and championship experience.

Codinera said in the Finals, defense will be a determining factor. “Defense is a very significant part of our game, it makes us flexible, pushing game-changing decisions on the court,” he went on. “I’m very happy at where we are right now. We never imagined nor looked this far when we started the tournament. We are so blessed and I would like to thank everyone’s prayers and support. We are very fortunate to have made it this far. We’re going all the way.”