It’s been more than two decades since San Sebastian last won a championship in the NCAA, the country’s oldest basketball league.
Before that, the Stags were able to build a winning legacy and the Recto-based dribblers even became the most dominant team of the 1990s when they won five straight championships from 1993 to 1997 when the school was bannered by the likes of Romel Adducul, Banjo Calpito, Brixter Encarnacion, Jasper Ocampo, Ulysis Tanigue, Rommel Daep and Topex Robinson among others.
In the 1980s, Paul Alvarez, Eugene Quilban, Melchor Teves and Art dela Cruz were the stalwarts that helped coach Francis Rodriguez’s team in dominating from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
Migs Pascual, Paeng Are, TJ Felebrico and the new breed of Stags are determined to change the fortunes of this once proud team in the coming Season 101 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Pascual believes this season could be the best opportunity for them to make a good run altogether.
The retooling Stags made some changes from management to coaching staff as former PBA player Rob Labagala will now take over the coaching reins replacing Arvin Bonleon. He’ll be assisted by Gilbert Lao, another ex-pro, and Carmelo Navarro.
All of them made it clear to the squad that they want to relive the winning legacy of the school.
“Yung San Sebastian may winning culture rin talaga. Kami ng team, yung coaching staff headed by Coach Rob (Labagala), Final Four talaga ang target namin. Pero siyempre, mas maganda kung mag-champion, kasi marami ring ga-graduate sa amin like sina Paeng (Are), sina Felebrico. Hindi rin ako sure about sa eligibility rules baka rin last year na namin ngayon. So malaking bagay yung campaign this season,” said Pascual.
In his young basketball career, Pascual had already experienced a wonderful journey playing the sport that he loves.
He was able to experience playing all the way to the world stage as a member of the national youth team while playing with the likes of Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and Forthsly Padrigao among others. In his formative years, he had experienced becoming a winner, playing for a powerhouse team San Beda, both in the elementary and high school.
But the joys of continues learning is what drives Pascual and he’s enjoying this voyage.
“Marami na akong experience sa basketball, since bata pa ako. I’ve played for a powerhouse team before like San Beda, nag-champion kami ng juniors. Before that, nag-La Salle Zobel ako, hindi naman powerhouse team, but a great experience. For me, kung saan yung opportunity, you’ll grab it. Kapag basketball player, you have that pride playing whichever team you were given opportunity,” said Pascual.
He takes pride playing the bigger role of reclaiming that old, winning culture San Sebastian lost over the past two decades, and although it’s not going to be a quick fix, Pascual welcomes the challenge of helping the team achieve it.
“Of course, the biggest difference for the teams is the recruitment. Coming out of high school, maramin na rin talagang magagaling na players, so para sa akin, as long as nasa NCAA, UAAP ka, nagagawa mo yung gusto mong gawin and play the sport that you love, I’m OK with it,” said Pascual.
“But for me as a player, whichever team I can grow more and become a much better player, kung saan ako matututo, doon ako. I just want to prove myself first.”
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