Barely has it warmed up regaining the men’s basketball championship of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU), and yet St. Clare College is already mulling over going for a back-to-back title by next season.
With only two players graduating from the current roster that beat Fatima University recently for the crown, the Saints are very much capable of repeating the feat next year, according to head coach Jino Manansala.
“Ayaw naming isipin na tsamba ito,” said Manansala, who was with assistant Tonton Sangco, star player Aris Dionisio, and St. Clare College top official Dr. Jay Adalem in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s Malate.
“Dalawang players lang ang mawawala sa amin, pero may iba pang papasok na magagaling. Pinag-hirapan namin ito, kaya sana tuluy-tuloy na yan.”
The Saints edged out the Phoenix in the deciding Game Three of the finals last week, 64-62, to regain for the school the title it last won in 2012 also under the reigns of Manansala.