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| The Red Cubs are suddenly missing this feeling of victory after their loss against Arellano. (Photo Credit: Spin.ph) |
Play a game of word association, and some of the words that you may associate with the San Beda Red Cubs are:
Fearless.
Dominant.
Words that evoke a certain feeling of leadership from a squad that has won the last 7 championships in the NCAA. All of a sudden, what we get is a team that is:
Downtrodden.
At a loss of words.
Recently, the San Beda Red Lions suffered their first loss in the regular season after 26 assignments, losing to the Arellano Braves 93-90.
"Hindi nga mawala yung iyak ko eh," mentioned team captain Sam Abu Hijleh.
Even while talking to Sam just over a Twitter Direct Message, you could immediately sense the feeling of heft when it came to discussing why they lost. San Beda had all of the opportunities to win the game. The fans knew it. Sam himself knew it.
"We had all the opportunities to win the game. Pero pinakawalan namin," mentioned the down-trodden Abu Hijleh. "[T]inanong niya (Coach JB Sison) niya kami kung kaya ba namain yung [Arellano]. Sabi namin kaya. Tapos sabi naming kayang kaya." That's why the loss felt so bad for the Red Cubs. That's why they find themselves in such a hole 8 games into the season.
In retrospect, the Red Cubs shouldn't be panicking. They find themselves in good position to finish in the Top 2 for the NCAA season, barring any more freak losses against opposing teams. At worst, the Red Cubs may finish third if they find themselves struggling some more against Arellano and the Malayan Red Robins. Still, they are in a good position to make it big in the Final Four.
But somehow, they find themselves completely downtrodden about the loss. Why so? Because losing seems so foreign to the team.
Part of that is because of the team's usual excellent teamwork and belief in each other. This time around, maybe the team had too much belief in their abilities.
Sam mentioned that one possible reason for their loss is because of overconfidence. "I'm sure part na yun," shared Abu Hijleh. Even Coach JB Sison himself knows this weakness of theirs. "Lagi ngang sinasabi ni Coach JB na sarili lang namin tatalo samin. Masyado kaming kumpyansa."
Other than overconfidence, Abu Hijleh mentioned rebounding and defense as reasons for their loss. Lars Sunga was a man on a mission during the game, gobbling up rebound after rebound for easy points. Ultimately, it was their defense which made them lose, as it was their failure to communicate in the defensive end which gave Guilmer Dela Torre the and one as the game winner for Arellano.
Memories of that game winner will haunt the team for quite some time. That feeling of sadness and downtroddenness will be felt by the Red Cubs until they get their revenge against the Braves come the 2nd round. For now, San Beda is given the opportunity to learn. The chance to learn from the mistakes that they have committed.
The only way that they can learn, is if they learn as one team.
"[We will] play our best every game. We need to be on the same page," shared Sam when it comes to their plans for upcoming battles.
The Red Cubs have been given a chance to reflect. Reflect on the mistakes that they made, and to learn from these. The only way they can learn is through losing. They may be tamed now, but eventually, they will roar once more. After all, that is how San Beda basketball is right? You experience pain, you learn from your mistakes, and you show the world.
We know talo kami, pero first round pa lang. Babawi kami. - Sam Abu Hijleh
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