Former NCAA Most Valuable Player Sudan Daniel, who led the San Beda Red Lions to an unbeaten 18-0 record and NCAA championship in 2010, reportedly died Saturday after an asthma attack. He had just turned 31 last Dec. 17.
Daniel's death was confirmed to ESPN5.com by former San Beda teammate Garvo Lanete. The asthma attack reportedly happened while he was vacationing in a farm in Batangas owned by former teammate David Semerad.
Daniel, who was nicknamed "Superman", joined the Red Lions in 2009, replacing Sam Ekwe as the team's foreign student-athlete. He was named the league's Rookie of the Year that season, but Red Lions lost their title to the San Sebastian Stags. The team bounced back with aplomb the following season, going undefeated in 18 games to regain the championship with Daniel being named MVP.
"Sudan was always the type of person and player whose positivity was contagious," Lanete said in a message to ESPN5.com. "His confidence would rub off on the players around him and make us all believe we were the best."
Another former San Beda teammate Borgie Hermida posted his reaction on Facebook. "It's shocking to know about the loss of my former teammate. Very sad news to the Bedan community. May you rest in peace brother."
The Red Lions repeated in 2011 but Daniel was unable to play after suffering an ACL tear prior to the start of the season. He would be replaced by Ola Adeogun the following season, but he went on to finish his management degree at San Beda and later joined Titan Sports after graduation.
Red Lions team manager Jude Roque told ESPN5.com he was "deeply saddened" by Daniel's sudden passing.
"The entire Red Lions Family mourns," Roque said. "Rest in peace Superman."
A native Californian, Daniel was recruited by then-San Beda head coach Frankie Lim while the latter was on a scouting trip in the United States in 2008. He stayed in the Philippines even after graduation, becoming a favorite of teammates and fans alike thanks to his cheerful disposition off the court.
"Su was a great person. [He was] loved by many, magaang kasama," Lim told ESPN5.com. "This guy worked hard everyday in practice to get better. Sumuka, umiyak pero tuloy pa rin sa ensayo. This guy will run through a wall for me... Without Su I don't think we could have done the sweep in 2010. San Beda [was] blessed to have a player like Su."
The Philippine Collegiate Champions League would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of former San Beda...
Posted by Philippine Collegiate Champions' League on Saturday, December 26, 2020