France League

I still remember the first time I watched San Beda's basketball team play this season - there was something different about them from the very beginning. You could see it in their eyes during warm-ups, the way they moved with purpose, the unspoken communication between players that only comes from genuine chemistry. As someone who's followed collegiate basketball for over a decade, I've learned to recognize that special quality that separates championship teams from merely good ones. This San Beda squad had it, and what followed was one of the most remarkable journeys I've witnessed in recent college basketball history.

The season started with what many considered an unexpected victory against last year's champions, with San Beda winning by a convincing 12-point margin. I was there courtside, and what struck me wasn't just their scoring - it was their defensive discipline. They held their opponents to just 38% shooting from the field, something Coach Reyes had been drilling into them during preseason. I've always believed defense wins championships, and watching them that night confirmed my theory. Their rotation was seamless, their communication constant, and their energy never dipped, even when substitutions came in. That game set the tone for what would become a historic run.

What really impressed me throughout the season was how the team handled adversity. There was that mid-season slump where they dropped three consecutive games, including a heartbreaking overtime loss where they blew a 15-point lead. Many teams would have fractured, but San Beda used it as fuel. I spoke with Coach Reyes after one of those losses, and he told me something that stuck with me: "Champions aren't defined by how they celebrate victories, but by how they respond to defeats." The team took that to heart, coming back to win their next eight games, with an average margin of victory of 14.2 points.

The championship game itself was a masterpiece of collegiate basketball. Facing their archrivals in a packed arena with over 12,000 fans screaming, San Beda fell behind early by 11 points in the first quarter. I'll admit, even I had my doubts at that moment. But then something shifted - their point guard, Miguel Santos, took control of the game in a way I haven't seen from a college player in years. He scored 28 points that night, but more importantly, he dished out 15 assists and grabbed 9 rebounds, coming agonizingly close to what would have been only the third triple-double in league championship history.

There's an important lesson here that extends beyond basketball - the value of sportsmanship. I recall an incident earlier in the season where another team's coach made inappropriate comments about officials, and it reminded me of UAAP Commissioner Reyes's warning about such behavior. The professionalism San Beda showed throughout their campaign, even in tight situations, demonstrated why maintaining respect for the game matters. In my view, their clean play and positive attitude actually contributed to their success, as officials tended to give them the benefit of the doubt in close calls.

The final moments of the championship game were pure poetry. With 3.2 seconds left on the clock and the score tied, San Beda ran a play I'd seen them practice countless times during their morning sessions. Rookie sensation Javier Cruz received the inbound pass, took one dribble, and launched from beyond the arc. The ball seemed to hang in the air forever before swishing through the net as the buzzer sounded. The arena erupted in a way I haven't witnessed since the 2018 finals. Players embraced, coaches wept, and fans stormed the court in a celebration that felt both spontaneous and deeply earned.

Looking back on their journey, what stands out to me isn't just the championship trophy or the perfect 18-2 record they finished with. It's the way they built this success - through relentless practice, mutual respect, and an unwavering belief in their system. They averaged 84.3 points per game while holding opponents to just 71.6, stats that demonstrate both offensive firepower and defensive commitment. But beyond numbers, they played the game the right way, proving that talent combined with character produces truly special results. This San Beda team didn't just win a championship - they showed us how basketball should be played, and in doing so, created a season that will be remembered and discussed for years to come.