Outnumbered?

Despite without their key players, the San Beda Red Lions proved to all that
they can beat the odds when their 6-man crew dropped a bomb on the Arellano
Chiefs.

Because of a controversial brawl last December, a majority of the members of the San Beda Men's Basketball Team were suspended for the Red Lions' season-opener against the Arellano Chiefs in the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament earlier at the FilOil Flying V Arena, leaving only 6 players available for the game. Being the lone non-televised game of the season, your resident sports blogger trooped to the stadium to what everyone thought was a mismatch. The Chiefs, now under former San Beda coach Koy Banal, boasted a complete roster, even parading AJ Serjue, who I believe is ahead of schedule. Here's what happened...

Arellano started way too hot, burying triple after triple, and they led, 28-21, after one. In the second, however, San Beda began to get their game going, and the Chiefs's lead was down to 2, 44-42. The rampage continued, and everyone began to believe. San Beda was on the driver's seat after 3 quarters. Anton Bonsubre, however, fouled out with 7:19 to go, and Coach Ronnie Magsanoc had no more reserve on his bench. Yvan Ludovice and Francis Abarcar began to suffer from cramps. Arellano, who were hot from the perimeter in the 1st half but gone cold in the 2nd, pulled a late charge, and the lead was down to 6. Abarcar did not give up. He carried the game to his own hands, and it worked. San Beda kept Arellano at bay, 81-71. Six defeated 15! Although I'm from UP (I'm cheering for UP alumni Coaches Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras), I was teary-eyed. It's just like seeing Gideon and his 299 comrades beating the Philistine army of more than a hundred thousand.

Speaking of the story of Gideon, it was not the 300 who were victorious then. It was God. Despite Gideon's fears, the Lord assured him that he and his army will win He will win the battle for them. Despite God further filtering the 45,000 people Gideon brought to Him to just a mere 300, he trusted the Lord. Despite getting the instruction from God to bring the most awkward of weapons--torches and pitchers, Gideon obeyed the Lord. Guess the headline of the news the following day. "Three Hundred Crushes 145,000". Oh! I did not even mention mankind's biggest victory yet: when God came to earth as a human to win the battle against sin for us on the cross.

All it takes is to believe. If you believe God will turn a seemingly impossible scenario to reality, all you need is to claim the victory in Jesus' Name. The apostles Paul and Silas even added, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you and your household, and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31)