I sometimes pick out and mentor kids in different basketball teams. I pick out the struggling players and not the star players. After all, what does the latter need? Plus, I see a lot of these kids get a raw deal. Many people see these kids as a meal ticket and while I do understand, they lose something early—values and proper guidance. I cannot even believe some of these kids who get managers very early.
I’ve sat with some of these kids who went undrafted in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and cast aside by their agents. Some we are able to get tryouts for teams. Some we move to other schools. There are kids I talk to on Ateneo, University of the East, San Beda, Mapua, College of Saint Benilde, National University (NU), Jose Rizal University, Adamson University, etc.
I guess it started when I sort of managed Ateneo’s Team B (and helped three players move up to the UAAP team). That was a time when Team B players almost never moved up to Team A. And one time, a PBA coach asked me to sort out one of his problematic players. I am pleased to say that it worked.
I choose kids who have good characters and attitudes; those who are willing to listen. And for the most part, they take heed. Many of them, we talk the evening prior to their games to help them with their mindset, visualization, or just plain giving them a pep talk. Does it help? Yes, it does. Are all the kids able to do well? Not all. Most do but not all for many reasons and not all of it their own doing. When it doesn’t work, it makes me redouble my efforts to help. Oh, it has helped even a few pro players. To be honest, I enjoy it. Their success makes me happy.
Do I manage these kids? No. I don’t ask for tickets or what.
Several years ago, after following the Batang Gilas U-16 team that won the Seaba, I befriended University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cub Bismarck Lina. I had watched him go through that first round of his first year with UST where the ball routinely went to CJ Cansino. Nothing wrong with that except the ball hardly rotated.
After one game, I spoke to him. Gave advice that wasn’t easy to dispense, given that he didn’t know me from Adam. I did share one bit. The Tiger Cubs were up against NU in their next match. You’re going to be matched up against this player. I said this guy will try to bully his way in. Bump and push back. Don’t bump back because you will get whistled for a foul. Wait for him upstairs, and you’ll block his shot.
That is exactly what happened the next game. Rejected the opposing Bullpup thrice. They still lost the game, but the match was close and Bismarck played really well.
Now there was buy in on his part. We had a simple game plan the rest of the way—don’t ask for the ball. Rebound, put back, if not pass the ball out to a teammate. He does that and the ball will eventually go back to him.
UST nearly made the finals. The ushered Adamson University and Far Eastern University (FEU) out of the step-ladder format before falling once more to a stacked NU team in the semis. Lina continued to play well despite being a far second fiddle.
Unfortunately for Bismarck, he was cut from the next Batang Gilas tournament. The kid felt so bad. We had lunch with the family at KFC at MCS in Makati and well, I gave him a prized Kobe Bryant Redeem Team jersey. That brought a smile to his lips.
We outlined his goals (knowing Mark Nonoy was coming in for UST). Along with his Uncle Jong, we did some skills training at an arena for several weeks (outside his usual UST training) at 6:30 a.m. We worked on some post moves and drills that I know. I might have not played varsity ball, but I do play the game a lot, study it intently, and watch a lot of games. So I figure, I know a thing or two about training and basketball). Including free throws and attacking that basket and a spin move as well.
The kid has an excellent attitude toward the game. Even before he was made team captain, I do not know of any player (especially one who has played for the youth national team) to be handing out water cups to teammates during timeouts when he was on the bench. That shows a humility and a willingness to help his team (even if the ball wasn’t going his way).
Game-wise—it was still the same but with an eye for attacking that board. Three rebounds per quarter isn’t so bad. If he could do that, it means he’ll finish with 12. The idea was to rack up double doubles. If by any chance this will help UST and win his spot on Batang Gilas. We wanted him in the conversation for the National Basketball Training Center All-Star Game.
The result? He did return to Batang Gilas for one more tourney. Furthermore, Bismarck was the MVP of the Breakdown Basketball Invitationals Summer League—his first individual award ever and a spot of the UAAP Juniors Mythical Five Selection. This year, even in spite of missing four games, Lina was in the conversation. He narrowly missed a second straight Mythical Five selection by a mere seven points. The loss to FEU hurt his chances.
While that was good, what was important was for him to help UST to a play-off for the fourth and final seed. Unfortunately, their fate wasn’t in their hands as Adamson defeated Ateneo and UST’s win over DLSZ was inconsequential.
Now the kid is on his way to college and the next phase of his basketball career. And I for one am excited for him. Oh, and it isn’t all sports. We do talk about schooling as well.
Will continue to help the kid and his family. And honestly, I also can’t wait to help the next kid.