IF you’re a die-hard De La Salle University Green Archers fan, you watched in shock and horror as the late great legendary Coach Aric del Rosario was the main architect of University of Santo Tomas’s (UST) consecutive title conquests over DLSU from 1993 to 1996. UST won three of its four championships over La Salle.
On Wednesday March 25, del Rosario passed away at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy, part of which, were former players who played for him who gave everything they’ve got on the court and more. He was soft spoken and humble, often crediting his players with all his achievements and accomplishments.
Another part of his legacy was “Tatay Aric” to his players, former players and former assistant coaches. He was a father figure off the court teaching his players to play the right way in the game of life. In a way, he was a life coach to his kids in college both in UST and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, a mentor cultivating young basketball minds.
According to former UST Tiger Cubs Head Coach, former assistant under del Rosario and now Parañaque City Councilor Binky Favis who played for del Rosario, “I played for him in UST and Nikon in the old PBL [Philippine Basketball League] and coached under him. He was instrumental in my transfer from La Salle to UST where I became the team captain and eventually started my coaching career as head coach of the Tiger Cubs and his assistant with the Tigers throughout the ‘4-peat.’ He was my coach, my teacher, my mentor, my Godfather and longtime inspiration. I owe so much to him.”
Favis continues, “In my book, he was the best College Coach in the Philippines ever! Judging from his championships, the number of high caliber superstars that came out of his program and the impact he effected on each and every one of us, his players in our lives after basketball. I love the guy and I am so saddened by his sudden demise. More sad that I couldn’t even see him and pay my last respects. RIP Coach, Ninong, Tatay Aric.”
Men’s Head Coach Louie Gonzales of the Jose Rizal University Bombers remembers del Rosario: “Tatay Aric to many, was one the few coaches that I knew who was passionate and committed to the game. He was humble in the sense that is he’s always ready to help and support coaches and aspiring coaches. I will remember my conversations with him and his pieces of advice about the game and about life.”
Sports Columnist Bill Velasco recalls his memories of Tatay Aric: “Coach Aric was the unique mixture of old school instinct and technical understanding of the game. His milestones as a coach will always stand out in Philippine basketball history: UST’s sweep of the UAAP[University Athletic Association of the Philippines], Pampanga winning the first Metropolitan Basketball Association championship, molding the young Alaska teams in the Philippine Basketball Association. But more than caring about the game, more than winning—which he was one of the best at—he cared about his players. He helped steer hundreds of young men in the right direction with his values and sense of fair play. Add that his Capampangan selflessness, and you have a father figure other teams wished they had. As commissioner of college leagues, he ran a tight ship. I knew him for more than 25 years. I will miss his raspy wisdom and childlike smile most of all.”
Former Green Archer standout Cholo Villanueva was a young player on the now defunct PBL’s Toyota Otis where del Rosario was a consultant and he’s now Chief Assistant Coach of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s Pampanga Lanterns: “He was I fiery mentor and great motivator. He knew when to strike a balance of pushing you and pulling back to reach your full potential as a player.”
Sports Columnist/Analyst Quinito Henson remembers Coach Aric: “Coach Aric was and will always be an institution in Philippine basketball. He left his mark as a man who lived and breathed basketball throughout his storybook career. Aric was the architect of UST’s ‘4-peat’ in 1993-96 and also won championships in the MBA, PBA [as an assistant coach] and with the national team [2003 Southeast Asian Games].
“The remarkable thing about Tatay Aric was his spirit. He coached the Philippine team to a forgettable 15th-place finish (out of 16 teams) in the 2003 Fiba Asia Cup in Harbin, China, but bounced back to pilot the Philippines to the gold medal at the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam. A rarity for a coach to display the heart and guts of rising virtually from the grave to bring the national team to the top over two international competitions two months apart.
Tatay Aric was a no-nonsense coach who let his players know if they were out of line and if they deserved a pat on the back…as NCAA and Filoil Flying V commissioner, he showed impartiality, an admirable trait.
“He was a friend who never turned down giving advice or insights whenever asked. His love for the game was extraordinary and he will always be remembered as a man of integrity, sincerity and humility.”
If you’re getting tributes of this magnitude from the Philippine basketball community, then you must’ve done something right.