Ni JEROME LAGUNZAD

MAY bagong panlaban si San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

Bukod sa beteranong sina Robert Bolick at Javee Mocon, maaasahan sa tropa ng Red Lions si Clint Doliguez sa kampanya ng San Beda para sa back-to-back title.

San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez during the NCAA Season 93 against San Sebastian at MOA Arena in Pasay, July 8, 2017 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)“I am really surprised both of them are here and Clint (Doliguez) is not here,” pahayag ni Fernandez sa post-game interview, patungkol sa 6-foot-2 na si Doliguez.

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Inamin ni Fernandez na krusyal ang performance ni Doliguez para mailusot ng San Beda ang 76-67 panalo kontra sa host San Sebastian College sa opening day ng Season 93 ng NCAA men’s basketball nitong Sabado.

Naghabol ang Red Lions sa 67-70 sa kalagitnaan ng final period, bago nabunot ni Fernandez sa bench ang 23-anyos na si Doliguez.

Hindi napahiya si Fernandez nang madepensahan ni Doliguez ang pambato ng Stags na sina Michael Calisaan at RK Ilagan at makipagsabayan kina Bolick, Davon Potts at JB Bahio sa 17-4 run ng San Beda para makontrol ang laro.

“I don’t really know how many points he scored, but when he came in, he played good defense, made some steals, and brought back that energy we had,” sambit ni Fernandez, patungkol kay Doliguez, nakuha ng San Beda mula sa Ateneo kasama ang 6-foot-8 big man na si Kenmark Cariño.

“In the fourth quarter, they played good defense. They followed the adjustments and the instructions in the fourth. The rest of the guys really stepped up today. And Clint, I just don’t want to mention Clint Doliguez,” aniya.

“He simply stepped up.”

Maging ang nagbabalik na si Stags guard Enzo Navarro ay napahanga sa tikas ni Doliguez.

“Akala ko sa amin na ‘yung laro. Ang problema, mayroon pa silang hugot, si Doliguez. Kami naman wala ng makuha,” aniya.

Mistulang ginto na napulot sa kangkunan si Doliguez na dalawang taong naglaro sa Team B ng Ateneo.

“He’s always been stepping up for us.“That’s why in the fourth, I saw it was a seesaw battle, I really have to bring out one of my guys,” pahayag ni Fernandez.