When watching pro or collegiate basketball, what often mesmerizes us are the stars executing the plays drawn up by the coaches to near perfection, or imperfection.
Their power moves, sleight-of-hand tricks, Fort Knox-like defense and foxy one-upmanship on the opponent make athletes the hands down box office attractions.
Star coaches also wow with their wisdom, smarts and strategic genius. In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) alone, top-calibre coaches share the spotlight with their players.
Tab Baldwin, Goldwin Monteverde, Nash Racela, Topex Robinson, Sean Chambers, Chris Gavina, Jeff Napa and Pido Jarencio all have their distinct personalities, styles and quirks that make them intriguing and watch-worthy.
But are you aware that hidden in the benches of the eight UAAP teams are legit basketball stars who fascinated us when it was their turn to make magic on the basketball court during their time?
I’m talking about the coaching staffs of the different teams in the ongoing men’s basketball tournament. If you looked more closely at the team benches, squint your eyes and rev up your memory a bit, you’ll strike a gold mine of basketball legends sitting, almost anonymously, with the high-profile ballers of today.
Once you recognize them, memories and images of their days on court will start to flow. And you’ll be glad to know that if you ever asked the question ‘where are they now?’ about your former basketball idols, the answer would be right under your nose.
Let’s start with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. This bench is star-studded as far as basketball stars of yesteryears are concerned. Apart from head coach Sean Chambers, who along with the late Bobby Parks was a multiple Best Import awardee and named ‘Mr.100%’, you’ll find the lovable Mutt and Jeff team of the Tamaraws of yore-Victor Pablo and Johnny ‘The Flying A’ Abarrientos-who both left their stamp on the PBA, albeit in different teams. Fearless FEU big man Mark Isip is also on that bench, as well as Richie Ticzon-the former Ateneo guard with the soft touch and the unfailing ‘long toms.’ Even Cholo Añonuevo, versatile FEU forward last seen in Season 87 is riding that bench.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are not to be outdone with their distinguished alumni going back to their aerie. Magnum Membrere, member of the Ateneo champion team of 2002 and five-time UAAP champion Nico Salva are backing up Coach Tab Baldwin and Assistant Coach Sandy Arrespacochaga in the Season 88 campaign. Even Bacon Austria is sharing his earned expertise with the women’s team.
De La Salle University has a bona fide star warming their bench in a different way. Sharpshooting Archer Renren Ritualo is there to make sure the Archers’ aims are straight and true. Former Fighting Maroons-Marvin Bienvenida and Gelo Vito, who were La Salle Greenies before they changed colors in college-are also part of Coach Topex Robinson’s high performing assets.
Over at the Blue and Gold, tough and wily guard Glenn Capacio (a Tamaraw in college who played for Purefoods, Mobiline and Red Bull in the PBA) is supporting Coach Jeff Napa and enjoying the best season the National University Bull Dogs are having in a long time. Former Growling Tiger Siot Tanquincen (who played for San Miguel in the PBA) is also on the bench and concurrently Director of Basketball Operations at NU. Young alum Patrick Yu-now also an engineer-adds youthful energy to the bench.
Don’t look now, but the University of the East Red Warriors have quite the high-profile bench. Apart from former PBA coach Chris Gavina, the UE bench has multi-champion ex-PBA player Alex Cabagnot as assistant coach. UE alum Niño Canaleta, who made basketball fans go wild during his playing days, is also on the staff, alongside former Growling Tiger Louie Vigil.
For their part, the UP Fighting Maroons have former PBA player Lowell Briones (father of sweet shooting Chicco Briones), multi-talented former PBA player and Growling Tiger, coach and broadcast panelist Christian Luanzon plus roaring Red Lions coach Britt Reroma as Coach Goldwin Monteverde’s back-ups.
The University of Santo Tomas has its elite guard Jeric Fortuna and Letran’s three-peat coach Bonnie Tan supporting Coach Pido Jarencio.
The Adamson Soaring Falcons have celebrated pro player, Rommel Adducul, a three-time NCAA MVP when he was with the San Sebastian Stags, as one of Coach Nash Racela’s wise men on their bench, together with never-say-die new graduate Vince Magbuhos.
Do you agree? The list of assistant coaches of the eight UAAP teams are just as interesting as the team rosters. I’d like to think of it as the ex-players’ reincarnation.