Lions wear Bench

A group of starstruck grade school kids gathered outside the room and shouted, "Si Aljamal!!!" They were ogling one of the San Beda players we were preparing for a Bench shoot. Jousef Aljamal, like the big kuya pacifying his little brothers, suddenly gave a loud "hoy" and the grade schoolers suddenly fell silent, trying to contain their giggles.

This is the price of fame, but in a good way – people look up to you. For there’s all the reason people should look up to this basketball team – and I don’t mean literally. Nine years of covering collegiate basketball, you get to see school champions come and go. Usually some champion teams assume a "superstar" attitude; even some non-winning teams do.

One thing you’ll easily notice when you are with the Red Lions is how simple these guys are, and how approachable they can be. Being the 2006 NCAA Champions never went to the heads of the San Beda Red Lions; that is why the support keeps pouring in, both from the alumni and the ordinary students. Showing what Bedan camaraderie truly is, they even address us as kuyas even if we have to literally look up to them. So this shoot was more of a labor of love than work on our part.

With the help of Bench, we have made over eight of our players, in different looks, showing the versatility of Bench’s Perfect Tee. It is also showcasing Bench’s undying support of one of its most loyal customers – the students.

The Players

Alex Angeles. The Team Captain of the Red Lions, but we Bedans consider him the "King Lion." He has the qualities of a leader. His teammates find him gentle and introspective.

Jousef Aljamal. The gentlemen that he is, people see him as a natural leader – perhaps the next King Lion? At a glance he may seem the distant type but unknown to many, he’s very approachable.

Borghie Hermida. Ordinary students would probably find their basketball players to be intimidating. But Borghie does not fit the label. People find him warm and easy to relate to. He’ll even be the first to greet you.

Micah Evangelista. He has an aura that exudes confidence, but at the same time can be playful as a kid. He’s bouncy and lively on and off the court. He can talk about almost anything from the most serious of matters to showbiz chismis.

Pong Escobal. He’s the unassuming heartthrob; he doesn’t know how many girls go gaga over him. Despite the adulation of many, he stays grounded. Before he enrolled at San Beda, a handful of universities with bigger offers and perks tried to woo him, but he turned them down. "It’s not really about the money," he said.

Kevin Espinosa. A big man with an equally big heart, he’s mild and quiet but one can learn a lot from him, especially from his humility. He’s the player who smiles a lot.

Chris Taupa. Do not be fooled by his quiet façade, he can be really intense on court. He’s the one who is always concerned about the well-being of his teammates.

Ogie Menor. A very proud Bedan, he even has a Red Lion tattoo on his chest like a badge. A very driven individual, he’s a perfectionist who always wants to improve.

* * *

E-mail the author at ketsupluis@yahoo.com.