COACH BRIAN ESQUIVEL : FROM LETRAN TO MERALCO POWER SPIKERS

Si Coach Brian Esquivel ang head coach ng volleyball teams ng Letran. Labing-isang taon ng head coach ng Letran ang dating NCAA star. Sa unang pagkakataon, naitalaga si Coach Brian bilang head coach ng isang koponan sa commercial league. Bukod sa Letran, hawak niya ngayon ang Meralco Power Spikers. Sa isang panayam kay Bandera Correspondent Eric Dimzon, inilarawan ni Coach Brian ang pamumuno sa dalawang magkaibang koponan. 

1. Paano ka nagsimula sa pagco-coach ?

Nag-start ako after graduating. Tinulungan ako ng Coach Nes (Pamilar). Tinanong niya ako kung gusto ko siya tulungan as trainer sa Letran. Ang naisip ko nuon suklian ang lahat ng naitulong sa akin ng Letran. Athletic scholar kasi ako dati sa Letran. Nag-champion kami from 1998 to 2000 sa NCAA. I was the team captain then of Letran. So, gusto ko talagang sulian ang kabutihan sa akin ng Letran by being the trainer and eventually the coach of Letran's volleyball teams.

2. Ano ang pagkakaiba sa pagco-coach sa Letran at Meralco ?

Napakalaki ng difference. Sa collegiate, developmental kasi. You have to train collegiate players for them to improve and reach their full potential. Sa commercial, set na yung skills ng players at teamwork na lang ang kailangang ayusin.

3. Mahirap ba na maraming star players sa team ng Meralco ?

Actually, may pressure nga eh. Syempre, sa case ng Meralco, nage-expect ang big bosses ng panalo. Pero sabi ko nga, hindi ganun kadali manalo agad-agad. Kahit na meron kaming Penetrante, Marano, Mercado at Morada, iba pa rin yung matagal nang magkakasama. Nabuo lang kami a month before the start of Shakeys VLeague. Ang mga kalaban namin, matagal nang magkakasama. Kaya sabi ko nga na hindi agad-agad yung panalo. Pero ipinangako ko na magi-improve yung team in every game.

4. Ano naman ang tsansa ng Letran sa NCAA ?

This year, malaki ang chance namin. Yung height ng teams namin, hindi nalalayo sa height ng mga kalaban. Yung skills naman ng players, constantly improving naman. Konting plantsa na lang. Ang maganda, lalaban nang pukpukan ang Letran.

5. Ano ang susunod para sa Meralco Power Spikers pagkatapos ng Shakeys VLeague ?

Naghahanda kami for invitationals. Magkakaroon rin kami ng clinics under the Meralco foundation. Pagkatapos ng clinics, Shakeys Reinforced conference na.

6. Ano ang hinahanap mo sa isang volleyball player ?

Malaking advantage talaga ang height nung player. Dati, hindi gaano pinahahalagahan ang height. Pero ngayon, palakihan na ang labanan. Then yung skills. At syempre yung disiplina.

7. Ano ang masasabi mo sa bagong buong national volleyball teams ng Pilipinas ?

I consider them powerhouse teams. Nandun na ang lahat ng star players. Maganda rin ang program ng PLDT for the national teams. Todo ang suporta ng PLDT sa Pilipinas Bagwis at Amihan. Hindi lang isang taon ang suporta kundi long-term. Maging ang PSC at POC umayon sa programa ng PLDT para sa national volleyball teams.

8. Kaya ba ng Pilipinas na manalo uli sa international tournaments sa volleyball ?

Kayang-kaya natin ibalik ang glory days ng Pilipinas sa volleyball. Mga 4 years na continuous ang training na may exposure abroad, sigurado gagaling ang national teams. At yung height natin, hindi na malayo sa height ng mga kalaban. At sa tulong ng PLDT, kayang-kaya nating manalo.

9. Ano ang maipapayo mo sa mga nangangarap na maging volleyball stars ?

Kailangan continuous ang training nila. Maghanap sila ng coach na gagabay sa kanila. Maraming players ang nadidismaya pag hindi sila nakuha sa tryouts. Sana huwag silang panghinaan ng loob at magpatuloy lang sila sa paglalaro.

BAKIT SINA TAB BALDWIN AT JONG UICHICO ANG PINAGPIPILIANG NEW GILAS ELITE HEAD COACH ?

Kung paniniwalaan ang mga reports, si Tab Baldwin o Jong Uichico ang magiging bagong head coach ng Gilas Elite.

Dahil pinili ng search committee na ikubli sa publiko ang mga batayan sa pagpili ng bagong Gilas head coach, hindi ko maiwasang magtanong kung bakit ang dalawang nabanggit ang pinagpipilian. Una, bagamat maganda ang record ni Baldwin sa FIBA tournaments, apat na bansa na ang umayaw na sa kanya.Ang mga ito ay New Zealand, Jordan, Lebanon at Malaysia. Ano ang dahilan at binitawan siya ng mga bansang nabanggit ? Pangalawa, paano naungusan ni Jong Uichico sina Coach Tim Cone, Norman Black, Yeng Guiao at Robert Jaworski bilang kandidato sa pagka-head coach ng Gilas Elite ?

Ayaw ko isipin na ang dating Gilas head coach na si Chot Reyes ang dahilan  kung bakit si Baldwin at Uichico ang bumabandera sa search committee. Matatandaan na consultant ni Coach Chot si Baldwin samantalang assistant coach naman niya si Coach Jong sa Gilas Pilipinas. Na sa kabila ng pagkakatanggal sa kanya, si Coach Chot Reyes pa rin ang nagpapatakbo ng Gilas team.

Tulad ng sinabi ko sa nakaraang post, kailangan na ang mapipiling bagong head coach ng Gilas ay may tunay na angking galing at kapani-paniwala sa mata ng sambayang Pilipino. Na ang desisyon sa pagkakapili ay batay sa galing at hindi sa lakas ng padrino. Sana, mag-isip-isip ang SBP at si MVP sa pagpili nila ng bagong head coach ng pambansang koponan.

WHO DO YOU WANT AS THE NEXT GILAS PILIPINAS ELITE COACH ?

Please choose one :

1. Jong Uichico

2. Ryan Gregorio

3. Tab Baldwin

4. Robert Jaworski Sr.

5. Norman Black

6. Rajko Toroman

THE BIGGER PROBLEM OF MVP, SBP AND GILAS PILIPINAS

The bigger problem of MVP, SBP and Gilas Pilipinas is not the search for a new coach. It is the stigma and shame of shooting at the opponent's basket in the recent Asian Games.

To this day, no one from the MVP group has publicly acknowledged that what Coach Chot Reyes did at the Asian Games of instructing his players to shoot at the opponent's basket was an insult to the sport and the entire Filipino people. There can never be forgiveness for the dastardly act if the perpetrators refuse to ask for forgiveness much less acknowledge the harm that was done. To my mind, support for Gilas Pilipinas, even with a new set of players and coach, will dramatically decrease as the shame of that particular incident is conveniently swept under the rug.

Interestingly, Tab Baldwin, the new Gilas coach, was a consultant at the time of the incident. He never lifted a finger to stop the incident from taking place. In fact, Baldwin, in an interview, said that "reaction to it was an overreaction". If only for this, Baldwin does not deserve to represent Filipinos through Gilas Pilipinas.

MANILA TO TAGAYTAY BIKE CHALLENGE 2014

The Manila to Tagaytay Bike Challenge, happening on November 29, welcomes bikers and cyclists who are looking for a fun day out in Tagaytay. The challenge welcomes elite, amateur, recreational and parent-child teams with trophies and cash prizes awaiting the top 3 finishers in the different categories. Categories include Road Bike, MTB, Folding Bike, Kid's Bike and Mini-Bike.

Race director Philip Aquino Pale said that the bike challenge will be very interesting since local and foreign entries have signified their intention to participate. Various cycling clubs from Manila, Benguet, Isabela, Tarlac and Singapore have already registered.

Would-be participants can pay the registration fee at any BDO branch under the account name Renderfarm Graphics with account number 5470348017. The registration fees are from P600 to P1,200, depending on the category.

So, enthusiasts, get your bikes ready and experience the early Christmas breeze of Tagaytay through the Manila To Tagaytay Bike Challenge 2014 of Renderfarms Graphics.

HUWAG PADALA SA DRAMA NI COACH CHOT REYES

courtesy of sports.inquirer.net

Ipinagbigay-alam na ni Coach Chot Reyes sa SBP at kay MVP na huwag na siyang ikonsidera bilang susunod na Gilas coach. Sa kanyang ginawa, tila naging mapagparaya at kapuri-puri si Coach Chot Reyes.

Subalit para sa mapanuri, mapapansin na pinangunahan lang ni Coach Chot ang magiging desisyon ng SBP. Mas nakakahiya kasi na malaman ng sambayan na hindi siya ikinunsidera bilang Gilas coach ng Search Committee. Kaya mas mainam na yung unahan na niya ang SBP at sabihing wag na siyang isama sa shortlist.

Kung tutuusin, hindi na rin naman kailangan na mag-withdraw ni Coach Chot. Ang pagbuo ng Search Committee ng SBP ay matinding pahiwatig na para kay Coach Chot Reyes na ayaw na sa kanya. Na ang pagbuo ng Search Committe ay para makapagsagawa ng pagbabago sa Gilas Pilipinas. Na ito ay tanda na papalitan na siya.

Maaari rin na pinagsabihan na ng SBP si Coach Chot Reyes na sabihin na nagwi-wthdraw na siya sa nominasyon sa shortlist. Ito ay para makaiwas na rin sa matinding kahihiyan si Coach Chot Reyes. Sa ginawang withdrawal ni Coach Chot, siya pa ngayon ang mukhang bayani.

Ano pa man ang dahilan, ang mahalaga, wala na si Coach Chot sa Gilas Pilipinas. Sana naman, ang papalit kay Coach Chot ay magaling, marespeto sa players, emotionally stable at di hangad ang iangat lamang ang sarili.

A DEEP DARK SECRET

Who is this controversial sports personality who seems to get away with what he wants. Despite his mediocre performance, this sports personality is left untouched by critical hands.

According to a very well-informed source, sports personality can get his way because people around him are scared to reprimand him at the very least. People are so careful not to upset the sports personality because controversial sports personality knows a deep dark secret. The secret is so sensitive and damaging that it can bring everyone down.

Can you guess who the sports personality is ?

MY SHORTLIST FOR THE NEW GILAS ELITE COACH

Whether Coach Chot Reyes likes it or not, he must face the fact that he is out as Gilas head coach. Whether he accepts it or not, his stint with the national team is over.

SBP created a search committee that is tasked to come up with a shortlist of candidates who are qualified to replace the emotionally unstable Chot Reyes. As a basketball fan, I have come up with my own shortlist. My shortlist includes :

courtesy of pinoyexchange.com

1. Ramon Fernandez  - PBA's greatest player was a playing coach at the peak of his career. His experience as a bemedalled national player will serve him well in international tournaments. His tirades against Coach Chot Reyes shows his great respect for the game.

courtesy of banderainquirer.net

2. Boyet Fernandez - The one-time PBA Coach of the Year has won just about every tournament his teams have participated in. He led San Beda to a five-peat and gave five titles to NLEX Road Warriors in the DLeague. He currently coaches NLEX in the big league.

courtesy of pba.inquirer.net

3. Alex Compton - The Philippine-born American coach is currently creating a miracle with his Alaska team. Surely, he must be doing something right with a team that does not have much talented players in its lineup.

courtesy of pba.inquirer.net

4. Rajko Toroman - The original Gilas coach deserves a second look as he knows the Gilas program down to its roots. But Coach Toroman must contend with too much politics should he become Gilas coach once again.

Who are in your shortlist ?

ON THE NEW GILAS COACH

Several names have come up with regards to the new possible head coach of Gilas Pilipinas. The more prominent names being mentioned include Tab Baldwin and Coach Tim Cone.

While Tab Baldwin and Coach Tim Cone are highly qualified for the position, I am seriously against having them as Gilas head coach. To this day, they have not condemned what Coach Chot Reyes did at the last Asian Games in Korea. In fact, they maintain that Coach Chot did not do anything wrong in Korea. While a lot of Filipinos find Coach Chot's antics at the Asian Games terribly vulgar, shameless and a disgrace, Coach Tim Cone and Tab Baldwin act as if they are not offended by what Coach Chot did.

What Gilas Pilipinas needs is a coach who has the right moral character. A coach who will not be at the mercy of certain individuals or group. A coach who is knowledgeable enough to win tournaments at the Asian level at the very least. And a coach who knows who he serves first and foremost.