THE JOURNEY OF COACH BOYET FERNANDEZ

From head coach of a champion PBA team, Coach Boyet became the head coach of a collegiate basketball team. And as he becomes an assistant coach to the newest PBA team, Meralco, I was able to ask Coach Boyet about his experience with the U.P. men's basketball team.

1. Ano po pinagkaiba nang pagko-coach sa collegiate team as against a PBA team ?
Malaki ang pagkakaiba. Sa PBA, matured na ang mga players. Kumbaga, magagaling na. Sa collegiate naman, kailangan mo pang tumutok lagi sa mga players mo. Mga bata pa kasi kaya you have to guide them mentally and emotionally. At talagang kailangan pang hasain ang fundamentals nila sa paglalaro.

2. Bakit po ninyo tinanggap ang coaching job sa U.P. gayung alam ninyo na talunan ang team na ito ?
First of all, I was requested to help U.P. as a consultant. Alam naman natin ang mga nangyari kung paano nawala ang head coach ng U.P. Kaya ginawa akong acting head coach. I love challenges in life and I saw U.P. as a big challenge. I wanted to change how people see the men's basketball team of U.P. Kaya tinanggap ko ang hamon na maging acting head coach ng U.P.

3. Saan po kayo mas masaya o fulfilled, sa PBA o UAAP ?
Parehong fulfilling ang maging coach sa PBA at UAAP. Lalo na kung makikita mong napaparangalan mga players mo at nananalo at nagiging kampeon ang koponan. Mas masaya lang talaga sa UAAP kasi matindi ang team spirit ng mga estudyante. Nakakapanindig ng balahibo talaga.

4. How would you describe your stint with the U.P. Maroons ?
It was a very challenging experience. Marami akong nakitang dapat baguhin na sinimulan ko nang baguhin.

5. Ano po naramdaman ninyo sa sunud-sunod na pagkatalo ng U.P. ?
Frankly speaking, disappointed ako sa nangyari. But I believe there is no other way for U.P. to go but up. Naniniwala ako na konting tiyaga pa, mananalo rin ang U.P. Maroons.

6. Ano po biggest frustration ninyo sa U.P. team ?
Yung matalo nang sunud-sunod. Masakit para sa akin dahil alam ko sa bawat pagkatalo nanghihina ang loob ng mga players ko. My players really want to win. But sometimes, breaks of the game lang talaga. Naging factor din ang mga injuries to my players this season.

7. Gusto po pa ba ninyong manatiling coach ng U.P. next UAAP season ?
Nasa U.P. na ang desisyon. Basta ako, I am willing to face the challenge head-on as head coach of U.P. even until the next UAAP season.

8. Ano po nais ninyong iparating sa U.P. team at sa buong U.P. community ?
To the team and whole community, maraming salamat po sa tiwala at suporta. Asahan po ninyo na gagawin ko ang lahat upang maiba ang tingin ng mga tao sa ating koponan. I commit myself to U.P. and will continue to fight for U.P. until we reach our common dream of landing in the Final Four. Hopefully, we can bring back the glory of 1986.