Host San Beda pressured to defend NCAA cage crown

San Beda University knows exactly what comes with being the defending champion — and playing host for Season 102 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) only adds fuel to the pressure.

Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta said the responsibility of hosting the Grand Old League should motivate his players to raise their level and stay ready for the adjustments that come with defending their crown.

“As hosts, you want to put your best foot forward and I told my players that we have been in this situation before. You have to expect the best from the other teams every time we play them,” said Escueta, whose wards will open their title-retention bid against College of Saint Benilde on 13 September at 2 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s hard to go back-to-back in the NCAA, especially in the past three years. You lose key players for different reasons. That’s the challenge for us as defending champions.”

The Red Lions are seeking their first back-to-back NCAA titles since 2017, when a San Beda squad led by Robert Bolick, AC Soberano and Javee Mocon defeated the CJ Perez-led Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Escueta believes their preparations have put them in a good position to deal with the stiff competition, particularly after their training camp in Spain last June under Spanish mentor Luis Guil.

The camp placed a heavy emphasis on defense, an area Escueta considers crucial against contenders Jose Rizal University, Saint Benilde and traditional rival Letran College.

“We’re thankful for our camp in Spain. As a coach, I am satisfied. We had good showings in tournaments heading into the season,” Escueta said.

He added that Guil’s sessions focused on defensive concepts being implemented in Spain, giving the Red Lions another dimension as they prepare for the grind of the NCAA season.