Let’s get it on: San Beda-Letran II

On the same day the Blue Eagles and Green Archers collide in their UAAP second round meeting, the NCAA likewise stages its most anticipated rivalry — San Beda versus Letran. Both schools are co-leaders in the history of the oldest cage league's men's division with 16 titles each. Former member Ateneo has fourteen while San Sebastian has twelve. Although the Red Lions are currently ahead of the pack in this 88th season with a 9-2 card, the Knights are riding on a two-game winning run to stay on track for the Final 4, with a 6-5 record.

In the NCAA's golden years, these four schools — Ateneo, San Beda, Letran and La Salle — have been battling it out for supremacy in college basketball. All four have been the most prestigious all-boys schools in the country, which made their games against each other so heated and colorful. But in the late 70's and early 80's, Ateneo and La Salle bolted the league respectively and renewed their rivalry in the UAAP some years later. This departure left Letran and San Beda as the only remnants of that old all-boys' club wars until today. Thus, the rich history made this present-day rivalry the NCAA's answer to Ateneo versus La Salle.

The Knights accumulated seven of their 16 crowns during the 80's and 90's. They coveted two more in the 2000's, the last in 2005. But the following year, the Red Lions ended a 28-year title drought. Since then, the
Mendiola-based cagers collected four more plums, the last in 2011. In the last three seasons, it was San Sebastian that posed the bigger challenge to San Beda.

The Red Lions and Knights measured swords for the NCAA championship only twice in history. The first was way back in October 28, 1950, which featured all-time greats Carlos "Caloy" Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar. Letran was bannered by a powerful cast dubbed "Murder Inc," which was led by Mumar. The Knights were on the verge of sweeping the tournament until Loyzaga and company scored an upset win for San Beda to arrange a title showdown. But the Knights still took the diadem that year.

The second time the two schools met for the NCAA men's basketball title was just five years ago, in 2007. The Red Lions got their second-straight championship by sweeping the Knights, 2-0, in the best-of-three finals.

The current Letran-San Beda rivalry is further enhanced with the issue on banning foreigners in the 88-year old league, which Letran spearheaded. It's public knowledge that it was San Beda that started the trend of recruiting dominant foreigners to bolster its basketball team. In 2006, Nigerian Samuel Ekwe debuted for the Red Lions and led San Beda to its first crown since 1978. He also carried SBC to two more titles in 2007 and 2008, and also won MVP honors in 2006 and 2008. When Ekwe graduated, the Red Lions brought in American Sudan Daniel, who powered them to the 2010 championship and was also named MVP that year.

San Beda successfully defended its title last year with Daniel unable to play a single game because of an ACL injury. It was to be his last season with the Lions as he is now over the age limit.

This year, San Beda paraded its third imposing import in Nigerian Olaide Adeogun. Although not having MVP numbers so far, this 6'8" former member of Nigeria's national youth pool has been instrumental in at least four of the Lions' victories. It can be said, without a doubt, that San Beda has the most significant imports in all of college basketball here.

In contrast, Letran prides itself of playing with an all-local roster, even attaching a Philippine flag in its jerseys to stress its stand against the recruitment of foreign student-athletes.

This year, it has been evident that foreign players can help amass victories for NCAA teams like Emilio Aguinaldo College and University of Perpetual Help. Both schools were the cellar-dwellers last season. Now, with foreign players Nosa Omorogbe and Ariyo Babayemi, the Altas are in the running for the top four slots. The Generals, with bull-strong import Noube Happi, are just two games behind Letran in the standings. They even shocked the Stags, 77-67, last August 18.

The NCAA has always allowed foreign student-athletes from year one. Before the league amended its rules a few years ago, up to 40% of a team's line-up may be composed of foreign players.

San Beda, like Letran, is also in a two-game winning streak since it bowed to San Sebastian, 71-80, on August 13. The Red Lions are eager to snare another three-peat this season after that magical championship spree from 2006 to 2008. Moreover, if San Beda defends the crown this year, it also gathers its 17th title to break out of the tie with Letran.

But the Knights are enjoying a renewed vigor with the return of 6'7" Raymond Almazan. He leads the Knights in rebounding with 9.3 boards per game. In their first meeting this season, an Almazan-less Knights succumbed to the Lions, 43-65.
We can expect a slam-bang encounter when the Red Lions and Knights face off for the second time this year. Coach Louie Alas' wards are looking to avenge their first round loss and stay in contention for the Final Four. The Bedans are raring to get back to the finals and hand new mentor Ronnie Magsanoc his first college ring as head coach.
Both camps would want to sustain their triumphant runs and there's nothing sweeter than achieving it at the expense of one's archrival.