MANILA, Philippines - Three San Beda Red Cub squads suffered upset losses in the division championships of the 30th SeaOil MMBL at their own homecourt on Mendiola.
The Red Cubs, arguably the most successful high school basketball program in the country for decades now, has ruled the MMBL since its inception as a post-NCAA/UAAP tournament organized by retired coach Ato Badolato back in the ‘80s.
San Beda sent three teams to the finals - its NCAA champion Team A as well as Teams C and D, and all failed in their bid for title. Its Team B fell early in the semifinals to National University.
The NU Bullpups Team C blew away SBC Team D, 80-58, in the Division 4 final; the Colegio de San Benildo Blazing Wolves shredded the Red Cubs-C, 77-63, in Division 3; and Tiong Lian’s Hope Christian High stunned San Beda’s NCAA junior champion squad, 93-87, in their Division 1 title showdown.
“This has never happened before when all the San Beda teams did not win a single championship trophy,†said Badolato. “This also says a lot about how the quality of coaching has gone up as the other schools have better training and fundamentals. Other schools now have a bigger reason to participate in the MMBL because San Beda cannot dominate this competition.â€
“It’s a huge win for us and our school,†said Hope Christian coach Steve Tiu, who got 46 points from star forward Clint Doliguez.
Oliver de Guzman led NU with 18 points while teammates Karl Peñano and Paul Pujante added 13 each.
Jordan Sta. Ana bannered San Benildo with 24 points against SBC Team C, while John Apacible backed up Doliguez with 11 points for Hope Christian.
San Beda’s Team A executed well, but Hope Christian kept coming back, finally breaking through, 76-75. The Red Cubs regained the lead briefly, 82-80, only to lose it again on Wally Villanueva’s triple, 83-82.
Another 3-pointer by Doliguez from about 30 feet out sealed the Red Cubs’ doom.