Beyond the 0-14: Rodney Santos Stays With San Sebastian Through Its Darkest Season

For San Sebastian head coach Rodney Santos, being part of the Golden Stags’ winless campaign was a difficult experience, but it was never something he would turn his back on.

The Stags endured a difficult NCAA Season 102, finishing with a 0-14 record after failing to secure a single victory throughout the campaign. It was a season filled with setbacks, uncertainty, and growing pains for a program still trying to find its footing. But behind the disappointing results, Santos believed there was a bigger story that people outside the team would never fully understand.

Beyond the 0-14 Record

“People don’t care. It’s either you win or lose,” Santos admitted, acknowledging how the season would ultimately be remembered. “Pero hindi nila alam what’s behind the story o ano ba ‘yung nangyari during our preparation coming to this season.”

For Santos, the struggles went beyond what happened on the basketball court. Having seen the program from both sides as a former player and now as its head coach, he recognized how much San Sebastian had lost over the years, particularly its identity and continuity.

“Walang identity ang team, walang culture, nawala ‘yung basketball identity,” he said, pointing to the challenges that had affected the program. With coaching changes happening almost every year and limited new recruits coming into the team, the Stags found themselves trying to rebuild without the foundation and personnel needed to immediately compete.

Santos acknowledged that the circumstances surrounding their preparation contributed to their difficult showing, but refused to use them as an excuse. He also took responsibility for his part in the team’s struggles, emphasizing that the players should not bear the blame for everything that happened.

“It’s not their fault,” he stressed.

A Baste Warrior Through and Through

That sense of responsibility was already evident before the season began. When San Sebastian suddenly found itself without a head coach with the NCAA season fast approaching, Santos stepped in to take over the Golden Stags. For him, leaving the players without someone to guide them was never an option, especially with his deep connection to the school.

“I love my school, eh,” Santos said. “Kung nagkakagulo, sorry, hindi ko pwedeng iwan ‘yung mga bata kasi mag-e-NCAA na eh. Alma mater ko ‘to.”

Having once represented San Sebastian as a player, Santos knew what the school meant to him. He was part of the Golden Stags’ three-peat championship run from 1993 to 1995 and went on to earn NCAA Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player honors in 1994.

Those achievements remain a significant part of his connection to the program, making his return as head coach a different kind of responsibility.

“I’m one of the players na nagbigay ng glory dito sa San Sebastian, I’m proud of it,” he said. “And ako ngayon, part of the record na walang panalo, pero that’s fine. Ganun talaga eh. Wala naman akong dapat ikahiya.”

Building Beyond the Winless Season

While the 0-14 finish was difficult to accept, Santos hopes the returning players will take the lessons with them. He wants them to learn from the costly turnovers and lapses in execution, mature from the experience, and come back understanding what it takes to win in the NCAA.

For Santos, the work ahead goes beyond correcting what went wrong on the court. San Sebastian needs stability, a clear identity, and time to rebuild. He knows he is now part of a season the school would rather forget, but he does not shy away from that. Having once helped bring glory to the Golden Stags as a player, Santos is now ready to take on a different challenge: helping his alma mater reclaim its place in the NCAA.