It's Boyet Fernandez for San Beda
San Beda College has named former PBA point guard Teodorico “Boyet” Fernandez as the new head coach of the Red Lions, it was announced Monday.
Fernandez will be the fourth head coach of the Red Lions in the last seven years after Koy Banal (2006), Frankie Lim (2007-2011) and Ronnie Magsanoc (2012). After a meeting between the school’s officials and top patron Manuel V. Pangilinan over the weekend, Fernandez finally got the nod to take over the 17-time NCAA champions from Magsanoc, who resigned last month. Fernandez had served as team consultant during Magsanoc’s one-year stint as chief tactician for the Red Lions in a fruitful 2012 season that saw them win a third straight NCAA crown. Fernandez and Magsanoc are both assistant coaches at Pangilinan’s Meralco Bolts team in the PBA.
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Fernandez has won titles as a coach since he retired from playing in the PBA, where he suited up for Sta. Lucia, Alaska, Purefoods and Pop Cola. In 2007, he led the Sta. Lucia Realtors to the Philippine Cup title in the PBA as a first-time coach. When the Sta. Lucia team disbanded in 2010, he was picked to join the Meralco coaching staff and at the same time be at the helm of the NLEX Road Warriors team in the PBA Developmental League. Under Fernandez, the Road Warriors have won all three championships in the D-League since its inception in 2010. In 2010, he also had a one-year stint in college basketball as coach of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. It was a forgettable season, however, as the Maroons failed to notch a single win.
But Fernandez will have the opportunity to redeem himself in college basketball as he takes over one of the most dominant collegiate teams in the country today. With only Jake Pascual, Melo Lim and Anjo Caram graduating from the program, the Red Lions will still be the heavy favorites this year. After all, they have won six of the last seven NCAA titles, losing only to the San Sebastian Stags in 2009.
"There's too much pressure because I have to fill the big shoes of Ronnie. But I’m excited to coach San Beda, as this is a new challenge for me. I’m very thankful to the school, MVP and the management for this opportunity,” Fernandez said.
San Beda snapped a 28-year NCAA title drought in 2006 under Banal, and then won two more in 2007 and 2008 under Lim. The Red Lions regained the crown in 2010 and repeated in 2011, also under Lim. But a two-year ban on Lim as a result of a brawl in late 2010 during an NCAA volleyball game in San Beda forced the school to replace him just a few months before the 2012 season. Magsanoc, a former San Beda high school standout, was appointed head coach but resigned after the season to spend more time with his family and focus more on being his good buddy Ryan Gregorio’s chief deputy at Meralco.
After Magsanoc’s resignation, Fernandez was often mentioned by team insiders as the top candidate for the coaching chores of the Red Lions. San Beda College rector-president Fr. Aloyssius Maranan, OSB and vice-president for finance Fr. Raffy Alaras, OSB have given their thumbs up for Fernandez after Pangilinan recommended him during the team’s Christmas party last December 22.
“It is a great honor to be given such an opportunity to coach San Beda,” Fernandez said. “I am grateful to boss MVP and to the San Beda community for the trust and support. Coach Ronnie left very big shoes to fill but rest assured that I will work doubly hard to be worthy of the job.”
Fernandez will stay on as coach of Pangilinan’s NLEX squad, which is currently on top of the team standings in the on-going PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
