Highlighting the opening of the 89th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Bedans gather to express all-out support for the student athletes during the annual pep rally held inside the MVP Gym at San Beda College on Friday.
Students brought the saying “paint the town red” to life as they wore red shirts, symbolizing their conviction that San Beda will capture its fourth-consecutive general championship this season.
Open field
Gearing up for the record of four consecutive titles are the Red Lions and Red Booters, San Beda’s basketball and football teams, respectively. Coach Boyet Fernandez is the head coach of the Red Lions team, while Coach Ariston Caslib leads the Red Booters.
According to team captain Rome de la Rosa, the Red Lions will continue to be competitive since the team believes that its rivals have improved.
“Keep working hard and practice. We don’t want to be too complacent about winning. The NCAA is an open field, everybody got stronger. We have to prepare for them,” De la Rosa said.
Spikers, Jins, Netters
The Bedan community also cheered the Red Spikers volleyball team led by Coach CJ Cuevas, and also for San Beda’s taekwondo and tennis teams, the Red Jins and Red Netters, respectively. This will be a chance to reclaim the crown as they both aim to bounce back from their first runners-up finish last season.
Sea Lions, Paddlers
Bedans likewise cheered the Red Sea Lions headed by Coach Gavino Roxas, the team with a record of 11 straight swim titles.
After its four-peat championship last season, Red Paddlers Coach Kurt de Guzman said that two Chinese nationals will train the table tennis team in preparation for the NCAA.
On Coach Ildefonso Datu’s second year as Red Woodpushers mentor, it is expected that the chess team will improve its third-place finish last year.
The school spirit was also high for the San Beda Dragonboat Rowing Team which will compete on its first year as an official sporting team in the NCAA.
Smashers, Tracksters
The pep rally was an inspiration, too, for the Red Smashers, especially since the women’s badminton team will also be playing its first regular sport event this season.
The whole Bedan community was eager as well to cheer for the track and field team, the San Beda Red Tracksters, with Narciso Dasigan as the head coach.
Guidance
In his speech, rector-president Very Rev. Fr. Maranan, OSB, invited Bedans to support the athletes by cheering for them live during their games.
“It is significant that we give our 100 percent attendance in NCAA sports events because they are inspired to give their best [when we attend their games],” Fr. Maranan said.
All members of the 11 San Beda teams were given Benedictine medals by the rector-president, as a sign of guidance for the student athletes during their games.
Attended by professors, administrators, and students, the pep rally ended with the traditional bonfire.
When it comes to the NCAA, expect that Bedans will cry a unanimous, loud roar: for San Beda, our country and God!