Members of the San Sebastian team whoop it up after beating San Beda for the NCCA crown last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. (Bob Dungo Jr.)

At the start of the season, nobody expected that the San Sebastian Stags will regain the NCAA title, much less contend against defending champion San Beda College.

Last season, the Stags could not even make the Final Four.

All this changed with the entry of Ato Agustin, a first-time coach who turned a rookie-filled lineup into a formidable team.

The Stags completed a Cinderella run by sweeping the Lions, 76-61, last Saturday at the packed Araneta Coliseum.

Agustin, who spent 12 seasons in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), credits the success to his players, a mix of rookies and veterans.

The Stags showed poise and composure in ending the Lions’ three-year reign.

Except for Jimbo Aquino, who played his final year for the Stags, more than half of his lineup including Ronald Pascual and Calvin Abueva are rookies.

“Ang tawag ko sa mga players ko ngayon eh 'rookie-veterans.' Pinatunayan nila yun kanina,” said Agustin during the Stags’ championship celebration in San Juan late Saturday night.

“Kung nakita ninyo kanina parang nabaliktad ang nangyari. Lumamang yung San Beda sa first half pero di sila nagpasira. Yung composure nila nandun. Parang yung championship experience ng kalaban napunta sa kanila,” said Agustin, referring to their meltdown in the first half of Game Two.

In that game, the Stags needed to overhaul a 12-point deficit in the third period before shutting down the Lions in the final quarter where they held San Beda scoreless from the field (0-of-15) to prevail.

Agustin cited Aquino, the Finals MVP and Abueva as the top players who made the difference in claiming their 12th NCAA title overall.

He said he saw himself in Aquino when he was still playing for different teams in the PBA.

“I told Jimbo that I was like him nung naglalaro pa ako. Ako yung go-to-guy nila. Pero tinuro ko sa kaniya na sometimes you have to be a decoy para mas makatulong sa team,” said Agustin, one of PBA’s 25 Greatest players who played for San Miguel, Pop Cola, Sta. Lucia and Red Bull.

As for the high-leaping Abueva, Agustin said: “Akala ng marami rookie siya kasi first time niya naglaro sa NCAA. Oo tama yun pero ang hindi nila alam beterano na ito sa labas sa mga barangay games. Umiiskor yan ng 60 points sa isang laro.”

“Walang kapaguran yang batang yan sa laro niya sa labas, siya lahat ang gumagawa para sa team niya,” added Agustin of the Pampanga-native Abueva who made heads turn following his stellar performance in Game 1.

The 21-year-old rookie churned out a double-double performance in the Stags Game One 72-68 win, coming through with 10 points and a season-record 23 rebounds.

“Ngayon lang ako nakakita na rookie at hindi pa-import na nag-rerebound ng 23,” said Agustin, who actually thought twice before accepting the coaching chores left by Jeorge Gallent last year.