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Former NCAA MVP Sudan Daniel, who led the San Beda Red Lions to an undefeated 18-0 record and the 2010 NCAA championship, died Saturday after an asthma attack. On December 17, he had just turned 31 years old.
Daniel’s death was confirmed to ESPN5.com by former San Beda teammate Garvo Lanete. The asthma attack allegedly occurred while he was on vacation at a farm in Batangas owned by his former teammate David Semerad.
Daniel 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 the Red Lions lost their title to the San Sebastian Stags. The team rebounded with poise the following season, going undefeated in 18 games to regain the championship with Daniel as MVP.
“Sudan was always the type of person and player whose positivity was contagious,” Lanete said in a message to ESPN5.com. “His confidence rubbed off on the players around him and he made us all believe that we were the best.”
Another former Saint Bede teammate, Borgie Hermida, posted his reaction on Facebook. “It is shocking to hear about the loss of my former teammate. Very sad news for the Bedan community. May he rest in peace brother.”
The Red Lions repeated in 2011 but Daniel was unable to play after suffering a torn ACL before the start of the season. He was replaced by Ola Adeogun the following season, but finished his management degree at San Beda and then joined Titan Sports after graduation.
