Escueta debuts as San Beda coach

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda University ushers in a new era with coach Yuri Escueta at the helm when it debuts against undefeated La Salle in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Escueta, a former Red Cub who has just been named as the new chief tactician of the decorated Red Lions squad, takes his first act at 5 p.m. in the Group B action of the 17-team preseason tilt.

He replaced Boyet Fernandez, now the team’s consultant, in a tall order of preparing the Red Lions to a successful NCAA redemption bid in September after missing the finals for the first time in 2005.

“It’s important for us to develop these players and ‘yun yung focus natin dito sa preseason heading into the NCAA,” said Escueta, also a former Blue Eagle and currently an assistant coach at TNT in the PBA.

Escueta will go up against decorated tactician Derrick Pumaren and the 1-0 Green Archers.

Also in Group B, Lyceum (1-0) shoots for win No. 2 against Jose Rizal U (0-2) at 9 a.m. to headline Filoil’s five-game bill.

Meanwhile in Group A plays, Emilio Aguinaldo College (1-1) and Arellano (0-2) clash at 11 a.m., National University (1-0) collides with University of the East (0-2) at 1 p.m., while Mapua (0-1) and St. Benilde (0-1) gun for their first win at 3 p.m.