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THE old
coach had some words of advice for the young and
upcoming one.
“After a
player’s fourth year in college, ask him if he’s coming
back to play in his final year of eligibility or if he’s
turning pro. Let them make the decision.”
That was
the first nugget of wisdom that the late and long-time
National University (NU) basketball coach Sonny Paguia
imparted to Manny Dandan, who was tapped to take his
place on the Bulldogs bench in 1998 after battling a
lingering illness.
As far
as Paguia and the school were concerned, anyone who
donned their school’s colors were students first and
athletes second. In many ways, the smallness of the
school (at that time Paguia handed the reins over to
Dandan, the university was about to celebrate its
centennial), its vision and its meager sports budget
dictated this policy. When one heard, “NU Bulldogs,” it
immediately connoted a condescending and at once
belittling term… “league doormats.”
It’s a
painful tag to earn the sobriquet of the Philippines’
version of the hapless and sad sack Washington Generals,
the Harlem Globetrotters’ eternal whipping boys. But the
comparison ends there, for NU does a little whipping of
its own.
Coach
Sonny’s second piece of advice was the overriding
factor: “During a player’s first four years in school,
make sure he graduates and that you train him so you can
whip the boy to be a man.”
It’s
something that former player Romulo Austria knows so
well. One time a game conflicted with an exam. For Coach
Sonny, it was a nonissue. Austria took the test and
graduated on time. He is now a licensed civil engineer.
“In
those four years, our students are expected to have
completed their academic requirements,” explained Dandan.
“By their fifth year, if they need to concentrate on
their career in the Philippine Basketball League or in
the pros, who are we to stop them? They have dependents
to consider.”
The
volleyball coach Juanito Candoy Jr. is another venerable
institution in the Sampaloc-based school. He’s been at
the job for 25 years in dual roles of physical education
instructor and mentor of the men’s and women’s teams.
“One of the biggest problems we have is inculcating
school pride,” says the affable coach who always has a
ready smile for everyone. “Kadalasan we get our players
from the intramurals. If we’re able to recruit, they are
those who have not been accepted by the bigger programs.
So meron na silang blow sa self-esteem nila. So that’s
another concern. Getting them to raise their
confidence.”
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
When NU
fielded a strong team in the late 1990s with Danny
Ildefonso and Lordy Tugade leading the way, they went
into every match with a chip on their shoulder. However,
consistency was the problem as they got up to play with
the bigger schools but played lackadaisically against
the lower seeded teams.
“Pero
okay na ’yung mundo namin,” recounted Ildefonso. “Simple
lang kami. Masarap ’yung feeling na panalo tapos
sumasalubong ’yung mga schoolmates mo at magme-merienda
kami ng pancit bihon.”
For
former point guard Froilan Baguion, who now plays for
Welcoat in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA),
he thought that the highest he could aspire for was
playing in the inter-barangay leagues in Navotas. When a
friend invited him to try out in
Manila,
he found himself cut by the University of the East and
University of Manila.
“Importante sa akin makakuha ng pagkakataon makapasok sa
college at makapagbasketbol,” said the feisty point
guard who was later named to the Mythical Five (and Most
Improved Player in 2002 season of University Athletics
Association of the Philippines). “Hindi naman kami
mayaman at ito ’yung pagkakataon na tulungan ang pamilya
ko. Sa team ko noon [with teammates Jeff Napa, Rey
Mendoza and Alfie Grijaldo], sigaw namin na sasakmalin
ng bulldogs ’yung mga kalaban.”
Coach
Juanito related the sad plight of Raymond Franza, the
setter for the current men’s volleyball who doesn’t
exactly come from a well-off family. “Sometimes he comes
to practice not having eaten. But his teammates come to
the rescue by sharing what they can for his breakfast.
The upside is that it builds character for the team and
it makes them closer and more determined to rise above
their current state. So we always tell them to work on
their studies because sa basketball lang naman ang may
pera tapos hindi pa lahat nabibigyan ng chance umangat
sa PBA. It’s a learning experience for us coaches and
teachers as well.”
The help
sometimes comes from unexpected quarters. NU’s two PBA
superstars—Ildefonso and Tugade—are like Santa Clauses
in high tops for they routinely visit their alma mater
bearing sacks full of sneakers, socks and other
basketball equipment. Baguion, who now has the means to
provide for his family, says that when he establishes a
more secure contract, he will do his share for his old
school: “Pinakita lang ako ng kabaitan ng mg tao sa NU,
sana nga makatulong na rin ako.”
Vice
President for Administration Bobby Paguia confirmed that
things might be looking up for the school’s varsity
teams. “Hopefully, we’ll see the upgrade on the
facilities happen soon.”
Confirmed Dandan: “Dahil sa wastong facilities,
magkakaroon kami ng kakayahan mahukay ng husto ’yung
abilidad ng mga bata. We’re also looking at sustenance
and nutrition programs that will not only improve their
health but their frame of mind. It will complement the
grassroots program that we have installed. It will also
allow the high-school players to move up to the senior
ranks para meron fluidity sa program. We are never going
to win the race for the blue chip recruits, but we’ll
always try to come up with a competitive team backed up
by some finds.”
Dr.
Arline Royo, NU’s indefatigable Athletic director who
also serves as the school’s vice president for Academic
Affairs and Registrar, tries to be present in every
single game of all the teams. Prior to her recent
angioplasty from which she is recovering, she said: “We
may not have much in terms of funds, but we try to
compensate in other ways. And one of them is to provide
a family atmosphere for all. And sometimes an audience
for our athletes means a lot to them.”
But
those “doormat” days will soon be over for these
underdogs. “We’re bringing in the younger generation to
manage the school and slowly take over,” said Bobby
Paguia. “With the new coaches and a better program, NU
will be more competitive.”
And
that’s not a word of advice. It’s fair warning. |
