TO COMMEMORATE SAN Beda University’s (SBU) centenary year as a founding member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) while supporting the University’s athletic programs, especially the San Beda Red Lions’ title defense in the Seniors’ Basketball Tournament, a group of proud Bedan alumni launched the SBU Red Lions Season Pass Project last September 7.
This initiative was inspired by the Red Lions’ championship win in NCAA Season 99 and the desire to find “innovative ways to support the team.”
Mr. Ryu Policarpio, the project’s Program Director and an administrator of Tunay Kang Bedista, SBU’s biggest closed Facebook group for alumni and students, explained, “So we thought of this plan carefully since last year, since our championship [last Season], what can we do since high pa ‘yung Bedan Animo? Of course, we’re champions.”
“Everyone was telling us how we [can] support the team in our small, little ways. [Kaya] naisip namin [ang] season pass,” he added.
The project’s passes aim to give their holders “premium seats” to every Red Lions’ game in season 100 for Php20,000 “with a minimum of 18 games and a maximum of 24 games.” On top of that, holders are entitled to merchandise, pins, and a general assembly with the Red Lions themselves.
Contrary to its initial name since release, Mr. Policarpio reassured that the season pass “is open to the general Bedan community,” saying, “…kung Bedan parent ka lang, student ka lang, kung Bedan educator ka or you’re part of the staff of San Beda, this is open to you, [it] does not matter kung alumni ka.”
Moreover, the season pass also aims to support not just the Red Lions’ but also San Beda’s athletic programs in general. “We will also support one minor sports program na we will select talaga na kailangan na kailangan ng tulong, ‘yung hindi masyado napopondohan but [are] doing well. And that’s going to be one of our considerations,” the Program Director added.
While Mr. Policarpio and the rest had announced 100 passes, that was allegedly “not the initial case” in the planning. Originally, the group opted for only half the number of passes due to doubts. But with the centennial NCAA Season “looming,” they finalized 100 passes.
In addition, Mr. Policarpio also told The Bedan that the passes were not only realized to commemorate the centennial marker, but also “to represent the 100 years of San Beda as the founding member since 1924.”
“We are the only remaining founders of the NCAA. All the other [founding members] went to the other league. So sabi namin, ‘ang ganda ng pagkakataon na season 100, and we’ll be introducing this 100 for die-hard Bedans,’” he explained.
Upon being publicized, the project immediately became a spectacle after being published in several media outlets, with Mr. Policarpio sharing how, in just three days after the articles were published, “nag-seventy percent kaagad ‘yung pledges. Right now, nasa 90% na kami.”
However, he would later explain that, given how the passes are still new, the program is taking it “one step at a time.” “We have to finish the season kasi syempre trial and error ‘to. This is our first time [and] hopefully it goes well.”
Regardless, given the “positive reception” from the Bedan community, Mr. Policarpio remains “optimistic” about the possibilities of extending the pass to future NCAA seasons as well. “When I say it’s not yet secured in the next seasons of the NCAA, syempre we’ll never know what the future holds. Pero ayun nga, if we hit the numbers, definitely this program will continue in the next seasons.”
Finally, he expressed his gratitude for the outpouring support of the Bedan community, saying, “maraming salamat po for supporting. Continue to support the program [and] the school. We have a lot of surprises and exciting things that we will announce in the coming days.”