Leaving the den: Coach Boyet bids Red Lions goodbye
Boyet Fernandez successfully steered San Beda College to unprecedented heights in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and he has no doubt the Red Lions will always crave for more, regardless who their next ring master will be.
“I’m confident whoever their coach will be, I’m sure these boys will be gunning for that six-peat,” he stressed after helping San Beda complete its “Drive for Five” behind a masterful 89-70 victory in Game 2 over an outclassed Arellano U side on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, putting an emphatic end to another dominant run in the 90th NCAA men’s cage tourney.
More than gaining his second NCAA men’s cage title since taking over the coaching mantle from Ronnie Magsanoc in 2013, Fernandez also helped the Red Lions become the second team in league history to complete a five-year romp after San Sebastian College-Recoletos accomplished the feat from 1993 to 1997. It was also San Beda’s 19th crown overall, already a league-best.
But Fernandez won’t be around when the Red Lions gun for an unprecedented sixth straight title next season, along with three graduating vita cogs—center Kyle Pascual and the Semerad brothers, David and Anthony.
Fernandez will be making a comeback to the pro ranks after four years as he will call the shots for the NLEX Road Warriors while Pascual (Kia Motors), David Semerad (Barako Bull) and Finals MVP Anthony Semerad (GlobalPort) will try to gain a piece of the limelight in the country’s grandest basketball stage.
Although he won’t have a loaded squad in NLEX that could regularly contend for titles just like what he had in San Beda, Fernandez, a one-time PBA champion coach with defunct Sta. Lucia, is ready to take on the big challenge. "It's going to be a tough rise for me and let's see what the future holds,” he stressed.
Fernandez also admitted his memorable moments with San Beda will always have a special place in his heart. "I will miss these boys. I'm gonna miss them. They are good kids, very good players. We've been together for two years and what can I say? I'll miss them a lot,” he said, his voice cracking.
“It’s (the victory) for the boys. They really wanted to win, they wanted to get the five-peat and it’s up to them. They really worked for it. You can really see from them how badly they wanted it,” Fernandez added.
Although he remained mum on his possible successor, Fernadez is convinced San Beda men’s basketball squad will be in good hands as they try to make it six in a row in next year’s Season 91.
"I hope they can do it. I believe they can do it,” he concluded.
